Israel's Knesset approved the first reading of a bill to introduce the death penalty for acts defined as 'terrorism' in a 39–16 vote, advancing a proposal by far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Critics and human rights groups warn the bill's wording would effectively target Palestinians while excluding Jewish extremists and could deepen systemic discrimination. The measure must clear two more readings to become law and was debated amid a US-brokered ceasefire over the Gaza war. Palestinian officials and rights organisations condemned the draft as a violation of international law and cited concerns about the treatment of more than 10,000 Palestinian detainees.
Knesset Approves First Reading of Death-Penalty Bill for ‘Terrorism’ — Critics Say It Will Target Palestinians
Israel's Knesset approved the first reading of a bill to introduce the death penalty for acts defined as 'terrorism' in a 39–16 vote, advancing a proposal by far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Critics and human rights groups warn the bill's wording would effectively target Palestinians while excluding Jewish extremists and could deepen systemic discrimination. The measure must clear two more readings to become law and was debated amid a US-brokered ceasefire over the Gaza war. Palestinian officials and rights organisations condemned the draft as a violation of international law and cited concerns about the treatment of more than 10,000 Palestinian detainees.
04:47 PM, 11/11/2025Conflict
Knesset approves first reading of proposed death-penalty amendment
Israel's parliament approved the first reading of a bill that would add the death penalty to the penal code for crimes defined as 'terrorism'. The amendment, advanced by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, passed on Monday by 39 votes to 16 in the 120-member Knesset, signalling support within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition.
Under the draft wording reported by The Times of Israel, the death penalty would apply to people who kill Israelis motivated by 'racist' intent and who act 'with the aim of harming the State of Israel and the revival of the Jewish people in its land.' Critics say the language would, in practice, be applied overwhelmingly to Palestinians who kill Jews while excluding Jewish extremists who attack Palestinians.
The bill must still pass a second and third reading before it can become law. A note from the Knesset's National Security Committee said the measure aims to 'cut off terrorism at its root and create a heavy deterrent.' Ben-Gvir celebrated the result on social media, saying his Jewish Power party was 'making history.'
'Its purpose is to cut off terrorism at its root and create a heavy deterrent,' read the committee note accompanying the bill.
Human rights organisations have strongly condemned Ben-Gvir's long-standing push for capital punishment in such cases, warning the proposal specifically targets Palestinians and risks entrenching systemic discrimination. Responding to the parliamentary vote, a Palestinian group described the draft law as 'embod[ying] the ugly fascist face of the rogue Zionist occupation' and a clear breach of international law, while the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called it a 'new form of escalating Israeli extremism and criminality against the Palestinian people.'
Although capital punishment remains on Israel's statute books for a small number of crimes, the country has been a de facto abolitionist state: the last execution was of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in 1962.
The vote took place during a United States-brokered ceasefire intended to halt Israel's war in Gaza. Observers and Palestinian officials have accused Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire with ongoing strikes on Gaza, while Israeli settlers and military forces have carried out lethal operations in the occupied West Bank. Israeli officials assert that Hamas has breached the ceasefire and continues to pose a threat to Israeli forces in Gaza.
Rights groups report that more than 10,000 Palestinians, including children and women, are currently held in Israeli detention. Israeli and Palestinian organisations allege that many detainees suffer torture, starvation and medical neglect, which they say has contributed to deaths in custody; Israeli authorities dispute some of these allegations.