Knesset passes law establishing military tribunal to try October 7 perpetrators

Key Points:

• The Knesset unanimously passed a law to establish a special military tribunal to try approximately 300 Palestinian terrorists captured during the October 7, 2023, invasion, with charges including genocide, terrorism, and war crimes; those convicted of genocide could face the death penalty.
• The tribunal will be staffed by 15 judges, including Supreme Court-qualified and international jurists, with trials open to the public and broadcast online; the law also prohibits release of suspects through prisoner exchange agreements.
• The legislation received rare bipartisan support and backing from the Attorney General’s Office, though implementation may be delayed due to budget disputes between the Defense and Finance Ministries, with cost estimates ranging from $689 million to $1.72 billion.
• Rights groups have expressed concerns about fair trial standards given prolonged detention without charges and alleged mistreatment of suspects, while some bereaved families criticized the political handling of the aftermath and called for a state commission of inquiry into the failures leading to the massacre.
• The passage of the law was marked by tense debates in the Knesset, including disruptions during an Arab lawmaker’s speech, reflecting ongoing societal divisions; bereaved families have focused on demanding accountability and political resignations ahead of upcoming elections.