Israel has only twice used the death penalty against a convicted prisoner, with the last instance occurring over sixty years ago, when Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann was executed. However, following the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, which marked the deadliest day in Israeli history, there is a political push for a new capital punishment law aimed at Palestinians convicted by Israeli courts for fatal terrorist acts.
Far-right parliamentary committee chair, Zvika Fogel, supports the legislation, asserting it is a moral imperative. He states, It's another brick in the wall of our defence,” emphasizing that such measures are necessary for national security. However, human rights organizations label the bill as one of the most extreme proposals in Israel's history, claiming it instigates racialized capital punishment as it would primarily target Palestinian offenders.
In parliament, heated discussions include testimonies from victims' families, with Dr. Valentina Gusak, a bereaved mother backing the bill. She described the death penalty as a “preventative measure” analogous to a vaccine against murder, reflecting a sentiment among some grieving families pushing for tougher measures against terrorism.
Opposition voices, including Arab-Israeli parliamentarian Aida Touma-Suleiman, argue that the law represents a dangerous shift towards revenge-driven justice amidst existing grievances in Israeli society. While the legislation aims to enhance deterrence against terrorism, critics warn it undermines the ethical framework of justice and risks deepening discrimination in the legal system.
The proposed law stipulates mandatory death sentences for Palestinian terrorists in military courts, raising concerns about its implications on an already tense Israeli-Palestinian landscape. The bill reflects broader sentiments as public opinion shifts towards embracing harsher punitive measures in the wake of the tragic events of October 2023.
