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Israel Creates Special Tribunal for Oct. 7 Suspects With Option of Death Penalty

The move signals a harsher turn that critics say weakens fair‑trial safeguards.

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Hand prints and other markings made in the soot on a wall are seen, nearly a year since the deadly October 7 attack by Hamas, in Kibbutz Beeri, southern Israel, September 15, 2024. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
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Overview

  • The Knesset, which passed the law Monday, approved 93–0 a special military court in Jerusalem to try Oct. 7 cases with the option of capital punishment.
  • Proceedings will be public with opening hearings, verdicts, and sentencing streamed on a dedicated website.
  • Panels of three judges will preside, and any death sentence triggers an automatic appeal to a special court.
  • The tribunal covers offenses from Oct. 7–10 and crimes against hostages, with several hundred suspects expected to face charges, and those charged or convicted are barred from future prisoner exchanges.
  • Rights groups warn the framework lowers due‑process protections by permitting mass trials and coerced or secret evidence, risking “show trials” and drawing scrutiny from Israeli courts and international bodies.