Israel's Knesset Approves Controversial Death Penalty Bill for Terrorists

Tue Nov 11 2025 19:26:13 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant move, Israel's parliament has passed the first reading of a bill proposing the death penalty for individuals deemed terrorists, primarily targeting Palestinians involved in attacks. The bill's passage is met with mixed reactions and raises concerns over potential abuses of power.

Israeli lawmakers have advanced a bill that proposes the death penalty for those classified as terrorists, with a clear focus on Palestinians convicted of fatal assaults against Israelis. The legislation, celebrated by far-right party members, aims to serve as a strong deterrent against terrorism. However, it has sparked a backlash from human rights organizations, fearing that the law could redefine the landscape of justice and lead to retroactive sentencing.

Israel's parliament has passed the first reading of a bill proposing the death penalty for those it deems to be terrorists acting against the state - a requirement which means it is likely to be used only against Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks on Israelis.

The far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir - whose Jewish Power party brought the vote - celebrated late on Monday by handing out sweets after the bill was approved in the 120-seat Knesset by 39 votes to 16.

After the law is finally passed - terrorists will only be released to hell, he said. The bill must pass two more readings before becoming law.

In the same session, the Knesset also approved the first reading of another controversial bill allowing the Israeli government to close a foreign media outlet without court approval. That vote was 50 in favour and 41 against.

While the death penalty exists for a small number of crimes in Israel, it has only been applied twice since the founding of the state in 1948. The last execution was of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in 1962.

This legislation represents a push by the Jewish Power party, aiming to nip terrorism in the bud and create a weighty deterrent against perceived threats.

Amid rising concerns, the Palestinian Authority's foreign ministry has condemned the proposed law as escalating Israeli extremism against the Palestinian people.

In a related context, the Knesset's recent deliberations also included a bill targeting the closure of foreign media outlets, reflecting broader legislative momentum in favor of tighter control over narratives and dissent.