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Israel approves law allowing public trials and death penalty for Oct 7 suspects

newsMay 12, 202617147

Israel's Knesset voted 93-0 to pass a law allowing public trials and the death penalty for people linked to the October 7 Hamas-led attacks. The statute authorizes courts to impose capital sentences and to hold open trials for suspects accused of participating in the October 7 assault that killed and abducted civilians. An opposition politician hailed the measure, saying "May everyone see how the State of Israel is a sovereign state which knows how to hold those who harmed it to account." Human rights groups warn the law weakens fair trial protections and makes imposing the death penalty easier, raising legal and diplomatic concerns.

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