“Let everyone see how the victims and their relatives look into the whites of the eyes of these murderers, rapists and kidnappers,” said MP Julia Malinovski from the right-wing Yisrael Beyten led by Avigdor Lieberman at a press conference before the vote, according to the BBC. She is a co-sponsor of the law together with Simcha Rothman from the Religious Zionism party, The Times of Israel reported.
“Let everyone see that Israel is a sovereign state that knows how to hold accountable those who harmed it,” added the opposition politician, according to whom it will be “trials with modern-day Nazis that will enter the annals of history.”
“We reached the goal, which is also the starting line, the beginning of historical processes that the whole world will see,” said the politician.
Under the new standard, suspects will be able to be charged with all relevant crimes, including genocide under the 1950 Act. If convicted of genocide, they may receive the death penalty.
The law also states that anyone suspected, accused or convicted of the crimes of October 7 cannot be released from prison under release agreements or prisoner-for-hostage exchanges. It is precisely this mechanism that motivates Palestinian terrorists to abduct Israeli citizens.
However, the implementation of the law may be delayed by a dispute between the ministries of defense and finance regarding possible costs.
Israeli human rights groups protested the bill because they oppose absolute punishment. Public monster trials also bother them. They also warn that they may act on the basis of coerced confessions that may have been obtained under torture, the BBC reported.
Terrorists from Hamas and other groups invaded the areas adjacent to the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, brutally murdering, torturing, raping and abducting local civilians and participants of an open air concert. They killed 1,200 people and dragged over 250 of them away and held them hostage for years. All these are war crimes.
