Ben Gvir hands out sweets as Knesset approves death penalty law for Palestinian prisoners

The Israeli Knesset on Tuesday night approved, in its first reading, a draft law introducing the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners. The bill was proposed by Knesset member Limor Son Har Melech and will now move to committee discussions before further readings. 

The draft law, submitted by Son Har Melech, passed its first reading in the Knesset’s general assembly with a significant majority — 39 members in favour and 16 opposed.

Following the vote, far-right Minister Itamar Ben Gvir distributed sweets in celebration of the Knesset’s approval of the law imposing the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners.

According to the bill, anyone who kills an Israeli citizen out of racial or national hostility, or with the intent to harm the State of Israel and the Jewish people in their land, shall be sentenced to death as the sole punishment.

The proposal also changes the current legal process by allowing a military court to impose the death penalty with a simple majority of judges rather than unanimous agreement. Furthermore, once a final death sentence is issued, it cannot be commuted or reduced.

READ: Knesset approves bill on executing Palestinian prisoners in first reading