Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, has approved a controversial new law creating special tribunals to try Palestinians accused of involvement in the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks, with the possibility of imposing the death penalty.
The bill passed by a vote of 93-0 late Monday, while several lawmakers were absent or abstained. Under the new legislation, military courts handling the cases will be allowed to conduct public trials and broadcast key proceedings, including verdicts and sentencing.
Rights organisations in Israel and Palestine have strongly criticised the law, warning that it weakens fair trial protections and could make executions easier to carry out. Legal advocates say the bill allows judges to accept evidence gathered under coercive conditions and permits mass trials that depart from normal legal standards.
Muna Haddad of Adalah, a legal rights group for Arab minorities in Israel, said the legislation undermines international legal principles and risks turning the proceedings into “show trials”.
The law also introduces mandatory public broadcasting of major courtroom sessions through a dedicated website — a sharp departure from Israel’s usual restrictions on courtroom cameras.
Israeli authorities are currently holding an estimated 200 to 300 Palestinians linked to the October 7 attacks, many of whom have not yet been formally charged.
The October 7 assault killed more than 1,100 people in southern Israel and led to the capture of about 240 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel’s military campaign in Gaza that followed has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and devastated much of the territory, according to Gaza health authorities and international agencies.
Several human rights groups, including Hamoked and the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, said accountability for the attacks should not come at the expense of justice and due process.
Hamas condemned the new legislation, calling it an attempt to justify Israeli actions in Gaza.
Israel is also facing international legal scrutiny over the war, including cases before the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, allegations the Israeli government denies.
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