Netanyahu supports Knesset move to execute Palestinian detainees
Ahead of the Knesset’s deliberations on the draft law, Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for prisoners of war and missing persons in the Prime Minister’s Office, announced today that he supports advancing the bill and described it as a pressure tool for Israel to secure the return of the remains of Israeli captives held in Gaza.
This comes despite the fact that last month Hirsch—along with other Israeli military and security officials—opposed the idea. At the time, amid efforts by Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Minister of National Security, to push the bill forward, Hirsch had asked Netanyahu not to bring the proposal to a full Knesset vote before a complete discussion in the cabinet. He warned that even if the bill passed only its first reading, it could still be reintroduced and approved in the next Knesset.
Hirsch stated that his previous opposition to the draft law had been a mistake, adding that his position has changed following the release of live Israeli captives.
He further confirmed that Netanyahu also supports advancing and approving the draft bill in the Knesset.
Hirsch’s remarks came as Israel’s Channel 11 reported this morning that the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, plans to submit the death penalty bill for Palestinian prisoners to the Knesset for an initial vote on Wednesday.
According to the proposed legislation, the death penalty for Palestinians would be enforceable by a majority vote, and any individual convicted and sentenced under this law would not be eligible for sentence reduction or commutation.
The bill was first introduced by Ben-Gvir last month to the Knesset’s Internal Security Committee, but members opposed it, saying such votes were not customary during the summer recess.
Two weeks ago, during the opening session of the Knesset’s latest round, Ben-Gvir threatened that if the death penalty bill for Palestinians was not brought to a vote within three weeks, his party would boycott all coalition votes.