(Extreme-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir originally proposed the law allowing the execution of Palestinian prisoners [Getty])
MENA
Israel has published a new draft of a bill imposing the death penalty for Palestinians, with those taking part in the October 2023 attack specifically named
Extreme-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir originally proposed the law allowing the execution of Palestinian prisoners [Getty]
An updated draft of a bill proposing the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners who Israel accuses of “terrorism” was published on Thursday, introducing new provisions that would significantly expand the powers of Israeli military courts.
The bill and its provisions have sparked outrage from human rights organisations.
According to Israeli media, the draft legislation would impose a mandatory death sentence on Palestinians accused of taking part in the Hamas-led attack of 7 October 2023, as well as other Palestinian prisoners, without requiring approval from prosecutors.
The revised bill reportedly specifies that executions would be carried out by shooting, the electric chair, hanging or lethal injection, by a prison officer whose identity would remain secret.
It would also grant military courts authority to impose the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners from the occupied West Bank regardless of the prosecution’s position, while removing the requirement for unanimous verdicts and abolishing the rule that all judges must hold the rank of lieutenant colonel or above.
The proposal would further amend the Penal Code to allow capital punishment for any Palestinian prisoner who “intentionally” causes the death of an Israeli citizen or resident.
The bill justifies the death penalty for Palestinians on the grounds of combating “terrorism”, strengthening “deterrence” and reducing incentives for prisoner exchange deals.
In all cases, executions would be carried out by the Israeli Prison Service within 90 days of a final judicial ruling.
For the first time, the draft also reportedly includes a specific clause relating to those Israel claims participated in the 7 October attack, stipulating that “the death penalty shall be mandatory for anyone who causes the death of Israeli citizens or residents in the massacre, as the acts shall be classified as genocide according to the Genocide Law.”
The death penalty proposal – first submitted by the extreme-right Jewish Power (Otzma Yehudit) party led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir- has now reached a decisive stage in the legislative process.
Ben-Gvir is a vocal supporter of the war on Gaza and the annexation of the West Bank. He has a history of violent incitement against Palestinians.
The bill has sparked alarm among Palestinian activists, with Palestinian prisoners already suffering torture, abuse, starvation and rape in Israeli custody. As of November 2025, an estimated 9,500 Palestinians are being held in Israeli prisons.
Hamas said the proposed law “embodies the ugly fascist face of the rogue Zionist occupation and represents a blatant violation of international law”.
The Palestinian Authority’s foreign ministry, based in Ramallah, described the bill as a “new form of escalating Israeli extremism and criminality against the Palestinian people”.
