Israel passes bill for special tribunal, death penalty for Oct 7 attackers

On Monday, Israeli legislators passed a bill to create a special tribunal that can impose the death penalty on Palestinians found guilty of involvement in the 2023 Hamas-led assault that sparked the Gaza conflict. The bill received unanimous support, with a vote of 93-0 in the Knesset, which has 120 seats, while 27 members were either absent or chose not to vote. Human rights organizations condemned the legislation, claiming it simplifies the death penalty process and undermines fair trial protections. Although defendants can appeal, they must do so through a distinct special appeals court rather than standard courts. The bill allows a panel of judges to decide on death sentences by majority vote and mandates that trials be live-streamed from a Jerusalem courtroom, reminiscent of the 1962 televised trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, who was executed by hanging. While capital punishment is still legal in Israel for genocide, wartime espionage, and specific terror crimes, critics argue that live-streaming trials before a verdict could lead to sensationalism and raise concerns about the validity of evidence obtained through severe interrogation methods.