Government advances legislation for extending detention of captured Oct 7 terrorists

The government advances legislation that would enable the state to keep in prison Hamas terrorists who perpetrated the October 7 atrocities and were subsequently captured.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Justice Minister Yariv Levin submit a draft bill for extending the emergency regulations relating to the detention of the terrorists, which would otherwise expire on February 7.

Some 150 Hamas terrorists were captured on Israeli territory on October 7 and its aftermath.

The explanatory notes for the legislation maintain that the need to continue to hold these terrorists before indicting them stems from the complex, unprecedented and “unique” nature of the investigative and interrogation process.

It adds that the interrogation of the terrorists is also designed to collect “valuable information for the continuation of combat.”

The new legislation will enable Israeli courts to extend the detention of these terrorists for a 45-day period, and then extend that detention for another 45 days.

The emergency legislation will be in effect for three months.