JERUSALEM: The Israeli parliament on Monday passed a law to establish a special military court for individuals described by Israel as members of Hamas’ “elite forces”, Anadolu Agency reported.
The bill was first passed in an initial reading in mid-January after being introduced by Knesset members Simcha Rothman of the Religious Zionism party and Yulia Malinovsky of the Yisrael Beiteinu party.
The Knesset passed the second and third readings of the bill, thus officially making it law.
The law was passed with the support of 93 Knesset members, with no votes against or abstentions.
The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said the law would provide the legal basis for what it described as “unprecedented trials”.
Hamas has not yet commented on the law.
Israel claims that the Palestinians arrested after the events of 7 Oct 2023 were members of Hamas’ “elite forces”, although they have not yet been brought to justice.
More than 9,600 Palestinian prisoners, including women and children, are currently being held in Israeli jails, according to rights groups.
Detainees faced torture, starvation and medical neglect, and many of them died.
— BERNAMA-ANADOLU
