The Knesset Approves First Reading of Law to Execute Palestinian Prisoners

SadaNews - The Israeli Knesset voted on Monday evening in the first reading on a bill imposing the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners convicted of operations resulting in the deaths of Israelis.

Israeli public broadcasting stated that the bill was approved by a majority of 39 Knesset members (out of 120), against 16 who voted against it.

The agency added that the session witnessed a confrontation between Arab MP Ayman Odeh and the extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, which almost escalated into a fight.

Odeh said during the Knesset session: "You will fly away, and the Palestinians will remain".

The legislation was introduced by the Otzma Yehudit Party (Jewish Power), led by Ben Gvir.

Ben Gvir had called on all coalition parties and Zionist opposition parties to unanimously vote for this law, describing it as a historical step.

Last week, the Knesset's National Security Committee voted by majority in favor of the bill, which will become effective after being voted on in the second and third readings.

The bill stipulates that a person who intentionally causes the death of an Israeli citizen, or does so with indifference, and when the act is carried out out of racial motives or hatred in order to harm Israel, must face the death penalty.

It also states that the sentence of anyone sentenced to death cannot be commuted.

With the opening of the Knesset's winter session two weeks ago, Ben Gvir threatened that if the law was not presented for voting in the plenary session within three weeks, his party would not be obliged to vote with the governing coalition.

Ben Gvir has repeatedly called for the passage of a law that allows for the execution of Palestinian prisoners in Tel Aviv jails.

Ben Gvir has significantly emphasized the conditions of Palestinian prisoners' detention in Israeli prisons, amidst an increase in crimes against them and their deprivation of rights.

Among the tightened measures are the prohibition of visits, reducing the food allowed for prisoners to receive, and decreasing opportunities for bathing in prison, according to these institutions.

The approval in the first reading of the legislation to execute prisoners comes at a time when Palestinians are suffering from the repercussions of a genocide committed by Israel in Gaza for two years since October 7, 2023, in addition to a bloody and destructive aggression against the occupied West Bank.