Israel Approves Military Tribunal For Oct. 7 Suspects, With Some Facing Execution

Israel’s parliament approved a special military tribunal for hundreds of Palestinians accused of taking part in the attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, with some defendants facing execution.

“The Swiss Army has sent elite soldiers from the DRA 10 Reconnaissance Detachment to Tel Aviv to protect the embassy”

24 Heures

The Detroit News said the legislation approved Monday recalls aspects of the 1961-1962 trial of Nazi mastermind Adolf Eichmann, and it noted that Knesset lawmakers voted in favor with 93 of 120 supporting the measure.

24 Heures

The Anadolu Ajansı update said the Knesset approved the second and third readings of the bill after a preliminary reading in mid-January, and it reported that the legislation passed with support from 93 lawmakers, with no votes against or abstentions.

The Detroit News also said the prosecution plan is designed for a custom-built Jerusalem court with hearings broadcast and archived, and it described the tribunal’s framework as one that could be scrutinized abroad.

In the same context, the Detroit News reported that Israel invaded Gaza in response to the Oct. 7 attack, starting a war that’s left more than 72,000 people dead, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin told reporters, "Thus will justice be done and the story of this terrible massacre recounted to the whole world, for generations," as the Detroit News described the scale of the Oct. 7 rampage as necessitating special legislation.

The Detroit News reported that Ahmad Tibi, a member of Israel’s Palestinian minority, said, "I don’t exploit it for politics and I’m not seeking revenge," after telling the plenum he had lost relatives in Gaza.

Al-Jazeera Net

Anadolu Ajansı said Israel claims Palestinians arrested after the Oct. 7, 2023 events are members of Hamas “elite force,” although they have not yet been brought to trial, and it added that Hamas did not immediately comment on the legislation.

Anadolu Ajansı also said more than 9,600 Palestinian prisoners, including women and children, are currently held in Israeli prisons, according to rights groups, which say detainees face torture, starvation and medical neglect, and many of them have died.

The Detroit News further reported that three Israeli human rights groups — HaMoked, the Committee Against Torture and Adalah — warned that the tribunal could draw on confessions obtained under duress and risks creating show trials.

Al-Jazeera Net’s Q&A said the bill would establish a special military court to try elite members of كتائب عز الدين القسام—the military wing of حركة المقاومة الإسلامية (حماس)—and it described the measure as allowing imposing the death penalty and carrying it out.

“Israeli parliament approves law establishing military court for Hamas ‘elite force’ members Legislation passes with support from 93 lawmakers, with no votes against or abstentions Mohammad Sıo 12 May 2026•Update: 12 May 2026 The Israeli parliament approved a law Monday establishing a special military court for what Israel describes as Hamas “elite force” members”

Anadolu Ajansı

It reported that the Knesset approved the first reading in mid-January and that the bill is based in القدس, while Israel’s Justice Minister Yariv Levin said at a press conference that the bill "ليس متعلقا بالعدالة وحسب، بل بالعدالة التاريخية".

Al-Jazeera Net said Levin described the law as granting the court "سلطة كاملة" to issue أحكام الإعدام and carry them out after issuance, and it said the bill would allow the court to hear indictments related to the events of 7–10 October 2023.

The Q&A also said trials would be organized by attack sites, such as مستوطنة بئيري, the مهرجان "نوفا" الموسيقي, and مستوطنة نير عوز, and it reported that each judicial panel will consist of 3 judges.

Finally, Al-Jazeera Net said most defendants will participate in hearings via video from inside prison, while they will attend in court for 5 types of sessions, including "الاستماع إلى الحكم النهائي".