Israel adopts exceptional law to prosecute Hamas militants from October 7

The Israeli parliament has passed a new law creating a special military court to try Hamas militants involved in the October 7 attack. The legislation, adopted in a rare display of political unity, marks a major turning point in Israel's legal response to the events that deeply traumatized the country.

This new legislation establishes a special military court to handle cases related to Hamas attacks on Israeli territory. The authors of the law state that they want to expedite legal proceedings and ensure that those responsible are tried in a manner commensurate with the gravity of the crimes.

Supporters of the legislation believe this measure responds to a strong expectation from the victims' families and a large segment of Israeli public opinion. According to them, the October 7 attacks require an exceptional legal framework given their scale and impact on national security.

The law also permits the death penalty in certain circumstances, although it is not applied automatically. Israel extremely rarely uses the death penalty, and this provision is already the subject of considerable debate in legal and political circles.

Several legal experts have expressed concerns about respect for procedural safeguards and fundamental principles of justice. Some fear that the creation of a special military tribunal could weaken the usual legal protections afforded to defendants.

Hamas strongly condemned the new legislation, denouncing it as a politically motivated and repressive measure. The Palestinian movement views the tribunal as a tool designed to further legitimize Israeli security policies in the context of the ongoing conflict.

This decision comes as tensions remain extremely high in the region, nearly two years after the October 7 attacks and the outbreak of the war that continues to shake the Middle East.