[56601] The Knesset approved by an overwhelming majority the law to prosecute the October 7th terrorists

The Knesset approved by an overwhelming majority the law to prosecute the October 7th terrorists

The Knesset plenum approved last night (May 11, 2026) by a majority of 93 Knesset members the bill for the prosecution of the terrorists of the October 7th massacre. The law, initiated by Knesset members Simcha Rothman and Yulia Malinovsky, regulates the establishment of a special military court in Jerusalem that will adjudicate the most severe crimes, including genocide and terrorism, with the authority to impose death sentences. According to the report by Yinon Magal and Dafna Liel, a critical reservation was also approved, stating that the terrorists judged under this law will never be released, not even as part of future deals.

Minister of Justice, Yariv Levin, welcomed the move and defined it as "one of the most important moments of the current Knesset," according to the Knesset spokesperson's announcement. Levin emphasized that the law is intended to ensure the pursuit of justice and the historical documentation of the events, while finding a basis for unity in the Knesset despite political disagreements. Knesset member Yulia Malinovsky added that "these will be the trials of the modern Nazis," and dedicated the legislation to the murdered and the hostages.

The discussion in the plenum was accompanied by protests and tension. According to Knesset Channel 99, an uproar occurred when bereaved families protested against the speeches of Knesset members Ahmad Tibi and Ofer Cassif, who opposed the bill. Knesset member Cassif argued during the discussion that "it is unthinkable that the sentiment of revenge should guide the court," while Knesset member Tibi argued that the bill is driven by political considerations and sought to lead to "a different reality."

The law sets forth detailed arrangements for conducting the proceedings, including the appointment of judges, visual and audio documentation of the hearings, and their broadcast to the public, while granting the court the authority to deviate from the customary rules of procedure and evidence if necessary to ascertain the truth. As reported by Baz News, this is an unprecedented move designed to address the scale of the atrocities and the large number of suspects.