Israel’s parliament on Monday approved a bill to create a special tribunal for Palestinians accused of involvement in the October 7, 2023 attack, with the proposed court allowed to impose the death penalty.
The bill received wide support in parliament and would establish a separate judicial process for suspects linked to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel.
Under the proposal, judges would be able to issue death sentences through a majority decision. Convicted individuals would also have the right to appeal through a special appeals court.
The legislation further proposes live broadcasting of the trials from Jerusalem, drawing comparisons with the historic trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in the 1960s.
Knesset passed the bill despite criticism from several human rights organisations, which warned that the measure could weaken fair trial standards and increase the use of capital punishment.
Rights groups also raised concerns over publicly broadcasting the proceedings before verdicts are delivered.
The proposed tribunal is separate from another Israeli law approved earlier this year allowing the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis in future cases.
The October 7 attack triggered the ongoing war in Gaza after Hamas-led fighters killed around 1,200 people and took hundreds of hostages, according to Israeli authorities.
Since then, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, according to health officials in the territory.
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