FT has learned about the Israeli Knesset's support for a bill on executions for Palestinians

The Israeli Knesset has approved in the first reading a bill providing for the automatic application of the death penalty to Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis on nationalist grounds. This was reported on November 11 by the Financial Times (FT) newspaper.

39 deputies voted for the initiative proposed by the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, while 16 voted against it. The document must go through two more votes to enter into force.

According to the draft, military courts in the West Bank will be able to impose the death sentence by a simple majority, without the right to commute. Critics believe that the law is discriminatory because it does not apply to Israelis who have committed similar crimes against Palestinians.

Ben-Gvir said the measure would be a "deterrent" after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. However, human rights organizations, including Al-Haq and Addamir, called the law a "dangerous legalization of racial discrimination." The Haaretz newspaper warned that its adoption would cause "moral and international damage" to Israel.

Waiting room: Israel and Hamas maintain shaky truce in Gaza

At the same time, West Jerusalem is considering all options for the development of events in the event of a breakdown of the agreement.

Earlier, on October 13, at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, representatives of Egypt, the United States, Qatar and Turkey signed an agreement to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip. According to US President Donald Trump, this gas deal is "the largest and most complex." Two weeks have passed since the ceasefire agreement initiated by US President Donald Trump came into force: Hamas returned the living hostages to Israel, and Israeli troops retreated.

On October 19, it became known that the Israel Defense Forces had launched airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. It was noted that this operation was carried out in response to attacks by Hamas units of the IDF, which operated in Rafah in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

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