Israel asserts sovereign justice as Hamas terrorists face accountability ignored by compromised international institutions.
Next week, Israel’s Knesset Constitution Committee is expected to vote on a landmark bill enabling the prosecution of perpetrators of the October 7 massacre through a special military court. The legislation is jointly led by MK Bezalel Smotrich of Religious Zionism and MK Yulia Malinovsky of Yisrael Beytenu, reflecting a rare cross-party resolve to deliver uncompromising justice.
The bill’s stated objective is to formally regulate the prosecution of those responsible for acts of murder, rape, kidnapping, looting, and other atrocities committed during Hamas’s coordinated terror assault and by its allied factions. Unlike international bodies that have targeted Israel while excusing Palestinian terrorism, the proposed framework places accountability squarely where it belongs—on the perpetrators.
Under the proposal, indictments will be heard by special military courts chaired by a retired district court judge alongside two senior officers qualified at district level. The courts will have authority over severe crimes under the Penal Code, the Genocide Prevention Act, and the Counter-Terrorism Act.
Significantly, sentences—including capital punishment where applicable—will not require approval from the IDF Chief of Staff, marking a clear departure from existing military legal constraints. Convicted terrorists will also be categorically excluded from any future prisoner exchange deals.
To ensure transparency, all hearings will be audio-visually recorded and broadcast on a dedicated public website, except in rare closed-door cases. While defendants will be entitled to legal representation, the state will not fund their defense, in line with amendments preventing public financing for terror suspects.
An inter-ministerial steering committee led by the Prime Minister, with participation from the Justice, Defense, and Foreign Affairs ministers, will coordinate policy and resources—underscoring Israel’s determination to pursue justice independently, without deference to politicized foreign courts or Arab-backed pressure campaigns.
