Knesset advances bill applying capital punishment only to Palestinians, while reports surface of Netanyahu weighing deal to free Hamas fighters trapped in Rafah tunnels.
Israel’s parliament advanced a bill that would impose the death penalty on Palestinians accused of killing Israelis, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s backing after months of hesitation. The measure, pushed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his Otzma Yehudit party, was approved by the Knesset’s National Security Committee and will move to a preliminary vote. The law would apply only to Palestinians, excluding Israelis who kill Palestinians, and would make the death sentence mandatory for anyone convicted of what the state calls “nationalistically motivated murders.”
Netanyahu’s endorsement signals a clear political alignment with Ben-Gvir’s hardline base. His earlier resistance was based on concerns that such a law could endanger Israeli captives held by Hamas in Gaza. Those concerns appear to have been set aside as the government leans toward measures seen as uncompromising and punitive in the wake of continued conflict. Government envoy Gal Hirsch told lawmakers that Netanyahu now supports the bill fully, ending internal uncertainty over the prime minister’s stance.
Israel’s death penalty laws are currently limited to exceptional circumstances, used only once in the country’s history, against Adolf Eichmann in 1962. Expanding the penalty to Palestinians would mark a fundamental shift in Israeli criminal policy. Critics, including opposition lawmakers and human rights groups, say the proposal institutionalizes a two-tier legal system and risks inflaming further violence. They also argue it undermines judicial independence by making sentencing mandatory and removing discretion from judges.
The bill must still pass three further readings before becoming law. Its advancement reflects a broader shift within Netanyahu’s coalition, where far-right ministers are gaining more influence over security and legal policy. The push for the death penalty comes amid rising tensions, internal political pressure, and the government’s desire to project strength amid an ongoing war.
At the same time, reports emerged that Netanyahu considered a deal allowing safe passage for around 200 Hamas fighters trapped in Rafah’s underground tunnels. According to Israeli media, the idea was to secure the return of the bodies of Israeli captives and solidify military control near the so-called Yellow Line. Political sources described the discussions as exploratory, and Netanyahu’s office later denied any agreement with Hamas.
Itamar Ben Gvir, during a prison visit, called for the death penalty for Palestinian detainees
The combination of these moves, the proposed death penalty for Palestinians and talks about freeing Hamas fighters, shows the contradictions in Israel’s current policy. Netanyahu is balancing far-right demands for harsher punishment with practical military and diplomatic considerations tied to the Gaza conflict. The result is a volatile political landscape in which the government’s strategy appears to shift between retribution and negotiation, depending on immediate pressure and circumstance.
Authored By: Global Geopolitics
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