From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Knesset panel holds hearing on legal status of Hamas terrorists captured by Israel
Jeremy Sharon is The Times of Israel’s legal affairs and settlements reporter
A sub-committee of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee convenes for the first time to discuss the legal status of Hamas terrorists who participated in the October 7 atrocities and who were caught and detained by Israeli forces.
The session of the sub-committee is conducted behind closed doors due to the sensitive nature of the issue, and is attended by Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, as well as members of Knesset.
Committee chairman MK Simcha Rothman says the panel reviewed the government’s efforts to create a legal framework for holding and putting on trial these terrorists during Tuesday’s session.
“The issue of putting on trial the Nukhba terrorists is very important. It is being dealt with while the war is still being conducted,” says Rothman, who welcomed the participation of MKs from all Knesset factions in reviewing the government’s actions on the issue.
Some 3,000 members of the Hamas terror commando Nukhba forces participated in the massacres, torture and mass rape of Israeli citizens and others on October 7, in which some 1,200 Israelis were killed and thousands more injured and assaulted.
Prison Service Commissioner Katy Perry said on October 17 that Israel was holding some 118 unlawful combatants, in reference to the Nukhba terrorists, although the number in Israeli detention facilities has risen since that date.
The Justice Ministry and State Attorney’s Office have remained tight-lipped as to how these terrorists will ultimately be put on trial.
