Civilian Israeli courts, which handle cases involving Israeli citizens, would retain discretion to impose either life imprisonment or capital punishment.
According to critics, this structure effectively creates unequal legal standards depending on identity and jurisdiction.
The law mandates execution by hanging within 90 days of conviction, with no possibility of clemency or sentence commutation.
Political Backing and Symbolism
The bill was strongly backed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has long advocated for harsher penalties in cases involving attacks against Israelis. During the parliamentary session, Ben-Gvir drew attention by wearing a miniature noose pin — a gesture that sparked immediate backlash from opposition members and human rights advocates.
Supporters of the law argue that it is necessary to deter violent attacks and reinforce national security. They maintain that existing penalties have not been sufficient to prevent deadly incidents.
Criticism and Legal Challenges
Human rights organizations and legal experts have sharply criticized the measure. Groups such as Amnesty International described the law as “a public display of cruelty,” while Israeli advocacy groups have labeled it “discriminatory by design.”
Within minutes of the vote, a petition was filed before Israel’s Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the law, particularly its differential application across legal systems.
