Khaberni - A spokeswoman for the office of the Israeli Prime Minister confirmed this Monday evening that Benjamin Netanyahu supports implementing the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners following a "fair trial", according to a statement carried by foreign media and reported by Hebrew media.
This comes after the National Security Committee in the Knesset earlier today approved a bill that mandates the death penalty for anyone convicted of killing an Israeli on nationalist or hostile grounds, to be brought to vote in the Knesset at its first reading the day after tomorrow, Wednesday.
Channel 12 Israeli noted that Netanyahu had greenlighted the move forward with the legislation, while the National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who champions the bill, stated "the time has come to deliver justice", emphasizing that the death penalty must be mandatory without discretionary power for the courts.
Hamas condemned the committee's approval of a bill that would allow for the execution of Palestinian prisoners, considering this move a severe escalation and a blatant violation of international laws and treaties.
In a statement, the movement said the parliamentary committee's approval of the bill and its referral for voting in the Knesset embodies the true face of Israel and confirms its persistent violation of international humanitarian law and the third Geneva Convention regarding the treatment of prisoners.
Hamas urged the United Nations and international rights and humanitarian organizations to take urgent action to stop what they described as a "brutal crime", and to work on providing protection for Palestinian prisoners and securing their release.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Prisoner's Club stated in a press release that Israel has effectively carried out field executions of Palestinians outside the scope of the law for many years.
It considered that the move to enact an official death penalty law reflects a policy that has been in place for decades and gives it legal cover.
