Israel passes law to impose death penalty and public trials for 7 October attackers

The government states that key hearings will be filmed and broadcast on a dedicated website, signaling an emphasis on public visibility of the process.

Bereaved families, including Carmit Palty Katzir, urged consideration of broader accountability beyond the Nukhba fighters and emphasized the need for answers and healing.

Recent polls indicate growing support for the death penalty among Jewish Israelis and broad support for an independent commission of inquiry into the Oct 7 attacks, though the coalition has pledged only a government-led inquiry.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin said the work was of enormous and unprecedented scale, with investigators reviewing thousands of hours of video and audio; documentation is to be preserved in the State Archives.

Human rights groups oppose the law, warning of show trials and confessions extracted under torture; Sari Bashi cautions that due process must be upheld and the death penalty should not be on the table.

Israel's Prison Service holds 1,283 unlawful combatants, with the vast majority from Gaza; a small number of Gazans are also held as criminal defendants, estimated at 300–400.

Many Gazans remain seeking information about relatives who crossed into Israel or were detained after the Oct 7 attacks.

Victims and bereaved families joined parliamentary committee discussions about the new legislation, with Carmit Palty Katzir stressing the need for accountability and healing.

Key hearings, including opening, verdict, and sentencing, are to be filmed and broadcast on a dedicated website.

The legislation creates a special military court in Jerusalem with rules different from regular trials to try those accused of direct involvement in the attacks.

Israel's Knesset passed the law by 93 votes to 0, with 27 members absent or abstaining. The bill was unusually co-sponsored by government and opposition politicians.

A few dozen protesters gathered outside the International Committee of the Red Cross headquarters in Gaza City in opposition to the new death penalty law.

Because the March framework does not apply retroactively to Oct 7 attackers, separate legislation was required to address those involved in the mass attacks.

Israel's parliament passed the Death Penalty for Terrorists Law aimed at Palestinians convicted of terrorism offences; the law does not apply retroactively.

Hamas-led fighters killed more than 1,200 people in southern Israel and kidnapped 251, including foreigners, in what was described as the deadliest day of the conflict.