Knesset Establishes Special Military Tribunal for October 7 Attackers

The Israeli Knesset passed a law on May 11, 2026, by a 93-0 vote to establish a special military tribunal in Jerusalem to prosecute Palestinians involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks. The legislation targets approximately 200 to 400 suspects, including members of the Hamas Nukhba elite force, charging them with genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. This framework allows judges to issue death sentences and explicitly prohibits convicted individuals from being included in future prisoner or hostage exchange deals.

Yariv Levin, the Justice Minister, defended the law as a necessary means to ensure a historical record of the massacre and to avoid the lengthy durations of standard criminal proceedings. The trials will be livestreamed from a custom-built courtroom and archived on a dedicated digital platform, drawing explicit comparisons to the 1961-1962 trial of Adolf Eichmann. Financing for defense attorneys will be deducted from funds Israel transfers to the Palestinian Authority.

Human rights organizations, including Adalah and HaMoked, condemned the legislation, warning that it removes fair trial safeguards and allows for evidence obtained under coercive conditions. Hamas characterized the tribunal as a "dangerous escalation" and a cover for Israeli war crimes in Gaza. The law follows a March 2026 measure that mandated the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis, a policy the United Kingdom government criticized as de facto discriminatory.