By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

Israel has advanced two bills that would enable the execution of Palestinian prisoners and expand police powers to arrest Palestinians for alleged “incitement”.

The Israeli Knesset has advanced two separate bills that further entrench systematic discrimination against Palestinians and sharply expand the state’s punitive and policing powers.

Late Monday, Israeli lawmakers approved in a first reading a bill allowing the execution of Palestinian prisoners. 

The vote passed by 39 to 16 out of 120 members, according to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority (KAN). 

The legislation, introduced by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power party, now heads to committee for preparation ahead of its required second and third readings for final approval.

During the session, a heated confrontation broke out between Arab lawmaker Ayman Odeh and Ben-Gvir, nearly escalating into a physical altercation.

The draft law stipulates that anyone who causes the death of an Israeli “motivated by racism, hatred, or intent to harm Israel” may be sentenced to death, and explicitly bars any future reduction of that sentence. 

Israel to Hold First Vote on Death Penalty Bill Targeting Palestinian Prisoners

Critics note that the language is crafted to target Palestinians exclusively, including those resisting military occupation.

Ben-Gvir celebrated the preliminary approval on X, writing: “Jewish Power is making history. We promised and delivered.”

Human rights groups have repeatedly condemned the proposal, warning that it would further institutionalize discriminatory legal standards and deepen the criminalization of Palestinians living under occupation. 

The move comes amid Israel’s two-year war on Gaza since October 2023, alongside ongoing military raids and arrests across the occupied West Bank.

More than 10,000 Palestinians, including women and children, are currently held in Israeli prisons, where detainees face torture, starvation, and medical neglect, according to both Israeli and Palestinian rights organizations.

Arrest without Authorization

On the same day, a Knesset committee also approved another bill expanding police powers to arrest Palestinian citizens of Israel without prior authorization from the Attorney General’s Office on allegations of “incitement,” particularly on social media, the Anadolu News agency reported. 

The measure passed the Knesset Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee by a vote of 6 to 5 and will now proceed to the full Knesset for three readings.

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir handed out sweets to his fellow lawmakers at the Knesset on the first-reading approval of a proposed law authorising the death penalty for Palestinian detainees pic.twitter.com/JNfWvuHgX6

— TRT World (@trtworld) November 11, 2025

The legislation would grant Israeli police broad discretion to open investigations into suspected incitement while increasing penalties for such offenses. Rights advocates and opposition lawmakers warned that the bill threatens freedom of expression and will disproportionately target Palestinian citizens of Israel.

Gilad Kariv of the Democrats Party said the bill “will lead to countless wrongful arrests of citizens and the abuse of arrest and investigation powers by officers lacking proper training, who will seek to curry favor with politicians.”

In contrast, Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power party welcomed the measure, claiming it would allow police “to act immediately, to arrest instigators.”

Palestinian Citizens of Israel, who comprise roughly 20 percent of the population, have long reported systematic discrimination in employment, housing, education, and policing. 

During Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, hundreds have been detained on accusations of incitement, while rights groups say Israeli Jews who publicly called for violence against Palestinians have faced no prosecution.

(PC, AA)