By a vote of 93–0, the Knesset on Monday evening passed a law establishing a special tribunal to prosecute the perpetrators of the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023 — more than two and a half years after the worst terror attack in Israel’s history.

The court will be able to impose the death penalty in the most severe cases.

Tribunal for around 300 captured terrorists

The law creates a separate military judicial framework for prosecutions connected to the October 7 attack, in which thousands of terrorists from Gaza invaded Israel, murdered around 1,200 people and abducted 251 others — amid widespread killings, rapes, torture and kidnappings.

The tribunal will handle the cases of approximately 300 terrorists captured on Israeli territory during the attack, as well as suspects accused of involvement in abductions and related crimes.

Under the law, suspects may be charged with offenses including terrorism, wartime collaboration, genocide-like crimes and violating Israeli sovereignty. In the most severe cases, the tribunal will have the authority to impose the death penalty.

The legislation was introduced jointly by coalition lawmaker Simcha Rothman of the Religious Zionism Party and opposition lawmaker Yulia Malinovsky of Yisrael Beiteinu.

Justice minister and lawmakers: “Israel will not forgive”

Justice Minister Yariv Levin said after the vote: “This is one of the most important moments of the current Knesset. Out of the horrific massacre, we rose to fulfill our moral duty and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Rothman said the law sends a “clear and unequivocal message” to Israel’s enemies: “The State of Israel will not forget and will not forgive. Those who slaughtered, murdered, raped and kidnapped Israeli citizens will be brought to trial and pay the heaviest price.”

Malinovsky told JNS: “Given the number of terrorists, crime scenes and evidence, a legal framework was necessary. This law enables judges to impose the harshest available penalties.”

The 93–0 vote, without a single vote against, reflects a rare cross-party consensus in Israeli politics.

That the law was introduced jointly by a coalition member and an opposition member underscores the point: When it comes to accountability for October 7, there are no political camps in Israel.

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