Hebrew media report preparations to enforce death penalty law against Palestinian prisoners

Hebrew media have reported that the Israel Prison Service has recently begun special preparations to enforce a death penalty law against Palestinian prisoners accused by Israel of carrying out or planning attacks. The law has passed its first reading in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.

According to Israel’s Channel 13, the plan includes building a dedicated facility for carrying out executions, setting out the required procedures, training staff, and drawing on the experience of countries that apply similar punishments.

The report said the plan being developed within the Prison Service involves establishing a separate complex, referred to internally as the “Israeli green corridor”.

Under the plan, executions would be carried out by hanging. Three prison guards would press the activation button at the same time. Participation would be on a voluntary basis only, and the guards would receive specialised training.

Sources told the channel that death sentences would be carried out within 90 days of a final ruling. They said the law would first be applied to elite members of Hamas who took part in the 7 October 2023 attack, and would later include prisoners convicted of carrying out serious attacks in the West Bank.

The channel also reported that a delegation from the Israel Prison Service is expected to travel soon to a country in East Asia to study the legal and administrative aspects of implementing the punishment.

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