A legislative proposal aiming to establish the death penalty for Palestinians accused of terrorism is currently under consideration in Israel.

On Monday, the initial reading of this bill received approval from Israel’s parliament, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voicing his endorsement for the measure.

This contentious piece of legislation would allow judges to sentence individuals to death if they are found guilty of committing murder with nationalistic motives against Israeli citizens.

However, it’s important to note, as reported by the Times of Israel, that this proposed law would not be applicable to Israelis who kill Palestinians.

Prior to the parliamentary discussion, Netanyahu and Gal Hirsch, who serves as Israel’s coordinator for captives and the missing, reportedly conferred about the bill and both agreed on its introduction.

Previously, Hirsch had reservations regarding the bill due to concerns that it might impede efforts to secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

But since all living hostages were returned to Israel last month as part of a US-brokered peace deal, Hirsch’s position appears to have shifted. 

But Hirsch, as well as other security officials, today stressed that judges should still retain some discretion in deciding whether to impose the death penalty. 

Israel is considering introducing a bill that would introduce the death penalty for convicted terrorists. Pictured: Israeli Minister of National Security and leader of the far-right party Otzma Yehudit, Itamar Ben-Gvir speaks during a meeting of his party at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem, 03 November 2025

Palestinian Hamas militants stand near a International Red Cross (ICRC) vehicle, as a search for the bodies of killed Israeli hostages takes place, in Gaza City on November 2, 2025

Others who took part in Monday’s meeting opposed leaving room for judicial discretion. 

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who introduced the bill, said in response: ‘Everyone admits that a death penalty for terrorists law can deter, and as soon as you grant discretion, you diminish the deterrent effect. 

‘I want their motivation to kidnap to disappear, and as soon as a terrorist who has murdered knows that he falls under the death penalty law, there will be no questioning and deliberation here, and that reflects the change in the State of Israel’s security doctrine. 

‘Let every terrorist who goes to murder know that he can expect one penalty—the death penalty.’ 

Meanwhile, the bill to impose the death penalty on Palestinian terror suspects has been deemed a crime against humanity by the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society. 

It comes as Israel on Monday handed over the bodies of 45 Palestinians a day after Hamas militants returned the remains of three hostages. 

The exchange marked another step forward for the tenuous ceasefire in the two-year conflict. 

The proposal is backed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 

Palestinians walk near an area where Hamas militants and members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) (back) search for the bodies of Israeli hostages in the rubble in Gaza City on November 3, 2025

Since the truce took effect on October 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 20 hostages, with eight still now remaining in Gaza. 

For each Israeli hostage returned, Israel has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians. Monday’s return brought the number of Palestinian bodies handed back since the ceasefire began to 270. 

Militants have released one or two bodies every few days. Israel has urged for faster progress, and in certain cases it has said the remains were not those of any hostage. Hamas has said the work is complicated by widespread devastation.

The war began with Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack, when militants killed 1,200 people and took 251 captives.

Israel’s retaliatory campaign killed nearly 69,000 people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its count.

The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government. Its figures are seen as a reliable estimate by the U.N. and many independent experts.