Israel advances death penalty for terrorists convicted of hate-motivated murders of Israelis.

Israel’s Knesset Security Committee has approved a bill to impose the death penalty on terrorists convicted of murdering Israeli citizens due to racist or national hatred, following Prime Minister Netanyahu’s endorsement. The legislation, backed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and now supported by hostage coordinator Gal Hirsch after all living hostages were returned, would allow military courts to impose the sentence with a simple majority and prohibit sentence reductions. It moves to the Knesset plenum for debate, with a vote expected soon. The bill stems from a 2022 coalition agreement and reflects heightened security measures amid ongoing military operations in Gaza and the West Bank.