File Photo: Palestinian prisoners captured in the Gaza Strip at the Sde Teiman detention facility. AP
The bill passed with 36 votes in favour and 15 against, and was referred to the relevant parliamentary committee for its second and third readings.
The Knesset also passed a similar bill, submitted by MK Oded Forer of the opposition Yisrael Beiteinu party, by a vote of 37 to 14. This move reflects cooperation between the Israeli coalition and opposition in targeting the Palestinian national movement within Israeli prisons, according to WAFA.
According to Israeli reports, the bill was placed at the end of the session's agenda to allow MKs from the opposition Yesh Atid party to leave the chamber during the vote.
After the two bills were approved, they were referred to the Knesset's National Security Committee, chaired by MK Itamar Ben-Gvir of the extremist Otzma Yehudit party, to finalise the wording before their second and third readings.
This session comes a week after the Knesset's National Security Committee approved the bills for a vote in the plenary session, with the direct support of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The law is considered part of the agreements signed to form the coalition government headed by Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu and Jewish Power party leader Itamar Ben-Gvir in late 2022.
The bill to execute prisoners is not new; it has been proposed repeatedly in recent years, most recently in 2022 when the extremist minister Ben-Gvir reintroduced it with several amendments. It was eventually approved by the Knesset in its preliminary reading in March 2023.
The bill stipulates "the death penalty for anyone who intentionally or negligently causes the death of an Israeli citizen out of racist or hateful motives and to harm Israel."
The bill's passage in its first reading will allow it to continue its advancement in the next Knesset, even if it is not fully enacted during the current session.
More than 9,100 Palestinians are currently imprisoned in Israeli jails. Among them are at least 400 children and minors, and 3,455 administrative detainees—those held without charge or trial. In addition, approximately 350 prisoners have been sentenced to life imprisonment. There are also hundreds of sick prisoners, whose exact number has not been determined by the Palestinian Prisoners Club.
Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are subjected to various forms of torture, including sleep deprivation, denial of medication, and extremely meagre food rations, sometimes amounting to only a few dozen grams. These rations do not even reach half the recommended daily caloric intake, as stipulated by international standards such as the World Health Organisation (2,000 calories).
At least 311 Palestinian prisoners have died from torture and neglect in Israeli jails, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club.
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