Some families in Israel are calling for a law that would execute Palestinian prisoners in Israeli occupation prisons. These families have POWs who are imprisoned by the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip. But not everyone agrees with this idea.
Protests in the Israeli Knesset
A meeting in the Israeli Knesset quickly turned into a noisy session when representatives of the families of detainees and missing persons voiced their opposition to the proposed law. They accused the head of the committee, Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, of using the law for political gain at the expense of their loved ones' lives.
Upset with the situation, the families and representatives of the detainees left the session in protest.
A Far-Right Minister's Plan
Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a member of the "Religious Zionism" coalition, wants to introduce and pass the law in the Knesset. He believes that Palestinian prisoners convicted of killing Jews should face execution.
Ben Gvir argues that the law is necessary because there have been attacks where innocent people, regardless of their background, were targeted.
Opposition to the Law
Former Deputy Attorney General Raz Naizri disagrees with the proposed law. He believes that there is already a clause in the Penal Code that addresses serious cases like those involving Hamas attacks. Naizri questions the need for this discussion and considers it both foolish and dangerous.
A Controversial History
This is not the first time such a law has been proposed in Israel. Last March, the Knesset approved a draft law allowing the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners convicted of killing Israelis. However, this decision faced strong criticism from Palestinians.
The recent Al-Aqsa Flood Battle, which resulted in the capture of Israeli soldiers and civilians, has given momentum to the legislation.
Israel's Stance on the Death Penalty
Although Israel abolished the death penalty in 1954, it can still be imposed in certain cases, such as high treason during times of war. Currently, Israel primarily relies on long-term imprisonment for serious crimes.
Source: Al Jazeera + agencies
