Reconsideration of death penalty bill for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli Knesset

Today (Sunday), the Israeli Knesset Security Committee resumes its review of the death penalty law for Palestinian detainees.

According to Al-Arabiya’s Sky News, the bill had earlier been postponed for two weeks at the request of Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for prisoners and missing persons. He warned of the potential consequences of this law on the fate of Israeli detainees in Gaza and its timing alongside the start of military operations in the region.

The proposal was initially submitted by Limor Son Har-Melech, a member of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, but it has been repeatedly rejected in the past due to opposition within the coalition government and concerns over its negative impact on efforts to secure the release of Israeli prisoners.

Nonetheless, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s Minister of Internal Security, has once again called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to approve the law.

In his statements, he said: “We should not make things easier. Despite multiple warnings, implementing this law is a deterrent tool that shows we are not joking with anyone.”