MKs propose fast-track trials for October 7 terrorists, consider death penalty option

The bill aims to fast-track the judicial process for those accused of participating in the October 7 massacre.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Israel’s Justice Minister Yariv Levin, along with Knesset Constitution Committee Chairman Simcha Rothman and MK Yulia Malinovsky, announced plans to advance legislation that would expedite the prosecution of Hamas’s Nukhba Force terrorists responsible for the October 7 massacre, possibly resulting in the death penalty.

The bill, which will soon be brought for its first reading in the Knesset, aims to fast-track the judicial process for those accused of participating in the coordinated attacks that left more than a thousand Israelis dead and hundreds kidnapped.

One outcome could be that the terrorists will be tried under Israel’s 1950 Law for the Prevention of Genocide, which is based on the 1948 Genocide Convention, and could result in capital punishment. 

Levin, Rothman, and Malinovsky said the measure is intended to ensure that justice is “served properly and swiftly,” without unnecessary procedural delays.

In the months following the massacre, a special investigative team was established, including members of the State Prosecutor’s Office, Israel Police, and the Shin Bet security agency.

The team gathered extensive evidence—thousands of hours of video footage, testimonies, and intelligence reports—documenting the crimes committed during the assault.

Officials said that after months of investigation, indictments have been prepared against a number of terrorists.

However, they noted that legislative amendments are necessary to streamline the court process and prevent the backlog of cases that could otherwise delay the trials.

The proposed law, part of the government’s ongoing “Swords of Iron” campaign to ensure accountability for the October 7 atrocities, has broad support across coalition factions.

Lawmakers emphasized that its purpose is to maintain the rule of law while enabling the courts to respond proportionately to the scale and gravity of the attacks.

Justice Minister Levin stated that Israel owes it to the victims and their families to make sure those who took part in the massacre face judgment “as soon as possible.” The legislation, he added, reflects Israel’s determination to pursue justice “with both strength and fairness.”