Israeli lawmakers have approved a bill to establish a special tribunal with the power to impose the death penalty on Palestinians accused of involvement in the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023.

The bill passed 93-0 in the 120-seat Knesset late Monday, with 27 lawmakers absent or abstaining.

Israeli and Palestinian rights groups warn the bill makes the death penalty too easy to impose and undermines fair trial safeguards.

Muna Haddad, a lawyer with Adalah, said the bill “intentionally lowers legal protections to secure mass convictions” and allows evidence obtained under torture.

The bill mandates filming and broadcasting of trials, which Haddad said “transforms proceedings into show trials at the expense of the accused’s rights.”

Israel holds 200-300 Palestinians without charge since the October 7 attacks, which killed 1,139 people and saw 240 taken hostage.

Israel’s subsequent war on Gaza has killed at least 72,628 Palestinians, with UN experts calling it a potential genocide.

Rights groups said “justice for October 7 victims is legitimate but must follow principles of justice.”

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem called the law “a cover for Israel’s war crimes in Gaza.”

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Gallant over the Gaza war.

Source: www.aljazeera.com