The families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza have warned of the consequences of the passage of a bill being debated in the Knesset, which imposes the death penalty on “detainees involved in the October 7 attacks”.
The Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, had announced that a Knesset committee would discuss the bill implementing the death penalty against “terrorists”, before presenting it for first reading in the Knesset General Assembly.
Following the attack that targeted a synagogue in Jerusalem last January, Ben Gvir said that anyone who kills or harms civilians “should be sent to the electric chair” and promised at the time to present a plan to law to execute those who commit terrorist crimes.
Last March, Parliament approved a preliminary reading of a bill imposing the death penalty on “terrorists,” despite opposition from the government’s legal advisor, but the bill has not been moved since.
Right-wing politicians have long been pushing to implement this idea, but their attempts have failed due to a lack of sufficient support and legal problems, according to The Times of Israel.
Knesset debate on the death penalty bill
A debate took place in the session of the Israeli parliament (Knesset) on Monday on a bill proposing the imposition of the death penalty against “prisoners involved in the October 7 attacks”, as reported by a correspondent of the Al-Zone channel. Hurray.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported Monday that representatives of the families of Israelis kidnapped by Hamas called on lawmakers to stop the project and said during a session of the Knesset’s national security committee that this legislation could endanger their families.
Gil Diekmann, whose cousin was kidnapped in the October 7 Hamas attack, told the minister of national security: “Please don’t take advantage of our suffering now,” believing the project could lead to “counterproductive results because people’s lives, our loved ones are at stake.”
Udi Goren, whose cousin was kidnapped from his home, asked: “If your father is in the Hamas tunnel now, do you think discussing the death penalty for terrorists will contribute to his return from Gaza?”
He continued, “Choose our life before the death of our enemy.” He added: “I hope it is clear to everyone that we are not in a computer game and that these people will only return through negotiations.”
Ben Gvir was seen hugging Diekmann, but stressed that he will continue the project because it “encourages the return” of the hostages. On his account on “AX”, the minister published a photo in which he hugged Diekmann and wrote that he “loves” the families of the hostages, but that “the death penalty is necessary to discourage terrorism”.
Haaretz said that another Israeli at the session, named Chen Avigdori, whose wife and daughter were kidnapped, shouted into the microphone and called on Knesset members present to “stop talking about death and talk (instead) about life”.
Ben Gvir responded by saying, “The chance of bringing your daughter and wife home increases with the imposition of the death penalty on terrorists.” Avigdori responded by calling on the minister to “commit to resign if this does not happen”.
A group representing hostage families said in a statement that it strongly opposes discussion of the project because “its presence at this time puts the lives of our loved ones at risk.”
The statement said: “The death penalty is a sensitive issue that should be discussed first in closed professional sessions. In any case, the imposition of the death penalty is still possible today and does not require legislative changes. Under these circumstances, Today’s discussions cannot have any practical results.”
The Knesset abolished the death penalty for murder in criminal cases in 1954, but in theory still approves it for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, high treason or crimes against the Jewish people, according to Agence France- Press.
The only case of execution carried out in Israel dates back to 1962, and was against the Nazi Adolf Eichmann, considered one of the planners of the Holocaust.
Media revealed that a deal was “close” to an agreement between Israel and Hamas for the release of the kidnapped hostages, provided this occurred “within 4 or 5 days of the truce”, during which both sides would stop shooting .
Two knowledgeable sources told CNN on Sunday that “the agreement includes the release of 50 hostages held by Hamas” (classified as a terrorist organization in the United States and other countries), after efforts that have continued for weeks.
Report reveals what Israel offers and what Hamas demands in ‘truce negotiations’
Media reports have revealed that an agreement is close to being reached between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas for the release of hostages held in Gaza, provided this occurs within four or five days of a truce in which both sides stop shooting.
The American newspaper The Washington Post reported on Sunday that “Israel, the United States and Hamas are close to reaching a deal that would allow the release of dozens of women and children held hostage in Gaza in exchange for a five-day truce. “
According to the newspaper, the release, which could begin “in the next few days”, “if obstacles are overcome at the last minute”, could lead, according to sources familiar with the details, to the first definitive suspension of the conflict in Gaza.
The Haaretz newspaper indicated in another article on Sunday that there was a “division” among government members over reaching a possible agreement.
While one government group believes it is necessary for Israel to move immediately to save all the hostages that can be saved, another group insists on the need to continue to put pressure on Hamas with all its strength.
But many relatives and friends of the hostages fear they will be harmed in Israeli attacks on Gaza aimed at destroying Hamas, while the government says the attack increases its chances of recovering the hostages, according to The Times of Israel.
Two teams and opposing arguments… an Israeli “division” on the hostage issue
The Israeli war government is witnessing differences of opinion regarding the conclusion of an agreement with Hamas for the release of hostages, with the Israeli army incursion into the Gaza Strip.