The Israeli parliament (Knesset) has passed legislation to establish a special military tribunal dedicated to the trial of hundreds of Palestinians accused of participating in the attacks of October 7, 2023. The move, approved by a significant majority of 93 out of 120 lawmakers, represents a rare cross-party consensus in the Israeli legislature.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing international media reports, the tribunal will be based in Jerusalem and consist of three judges. The court is expected to try between 200 and 300 individuals currently in custody, as well as others detained during subsequent operations in Gaza. Officials stated that the proceedings will be open to the public and broadcast live to ensure transparency, though the law also allows for the possibility of the death penalty for certain offenses.
The October 7 attacks, carried out by Hamas, resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 people, primarily civilians, marking the deadliest day in Israel's history. In response, Israel launched a large-scale military campaign in Gaza, which has led to over 72,000 fatalities and widespread destruction. The establishment of this tribunal comes amid ongoing international legal scrutiny, as the International Criminal Court (ICC) continues to investigate conduct during the conflict and has issued arrest warrants for high-ranking officials on both sides, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leaders.
Legal experts have expressed concerns regarding the fairness of the judicial process within a military court environment. While some specialists warn of the risk of a politicized framework, Yulia Malinovsky, one of the bill's authors, defended the document, emphasizing that the courts will be based on law rather than public emotion. Meanwhile, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem condemned the new tribunal law, describing it as an attempt to cover up Israel's actions in Gaza.
