The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, was today marked by debate between the families of the hostages and the government. Those whose relatives were kidnapped by Hamas demanded that the death penalty not be imposed on Hamas members during the Knesset session.
Haaretz reported that Gil Diekmann, whose cousin was kidnapped in Gaza on October 7, pleaded with far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir not to enact the death penalty law. Diekman addressed the Israeli minister with the following sentence: “I begged you not to take advantage of our pain now.”
“You know this bill is not going to pass now,” Gil Dickman said. “There are ways to do things without creating a media hype. Please, we have time to discuss it later. Please, be with us on one side of life, not on the other side of life.” side of death. “I beg you to take this issue off the agenda.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition partners, who formed the most right-wing government in Israel’s history, took action to impose the death penalty on Hamas members after the October 7 raid. The death penalty bill, which was presented to parliament in recent months by Limor Son Har-Malek, a member of parliament from Minister Ben Gvir’s Jewish Power party, has not been on the agenda since March. The October 7 attacks returned the draft law to the Israeli agenda, despite the opposition of the government’s legal advisor.
On the other hand, the families accuse the Netanyahu government of not doing anything to release more than 230 hostages. Relatives of the hostages carried out a five-day march from the capital, Tel Aviv, to Jerusalem, and the protest ended in front of Netanyahu’s official residence.
“Stop talking about killing Arabs and talk about saving Jews,” shouted a man whose wife and daughter were taken hostage during a debate in Parliament’s National Security Committee today.
Zvika Vogel, from the Jewish Power Party led by Minister Ben Gvir, accused the relatives of the hostages, who demanded a freeze on the death penalty, of being representatives of Hamas. Vogel’s words led to tensions reaching their peak in the parliamentary committee.
The Times of Israel reported that Almog Cohen, another member of the Jewish Power party, shouted at the hostages’ families during the session.
Haaretz reported that the draft implementation law will not be put to a vote until it is approved by the Council of Ministers.