Israel - November 2024

On 7 November, the Knesset passed legislation authorizing the Interior Minister to deport the immediate family members of individuals convicted of terrorism offenses, including Israeli citizens. Relatives who knew of a plan to commit such an offence and failed to report it, or expressed support for the act, are liable to be deported to Gaza or elsewhere for seven to 20 years. Civil rights groups condemned the law as unconstitutional, arguing it undermines citizenship rights and constitutes collective punishment against Palestinian citizens of Israel and residents of East Jerusalem. Also on 7 November, the Knesset approved a temporary five-year provision allowing children as young as 12 to be detained in closed facilities under terrorism laws if charged with murder or attempted murder. The provision permits transferring these minors to standard prisons once they turn 14. Both laws have faced significant criticism, and observers anticipate judicial challenges in the Supreme Court.

Sources: Knesset (1), Knesset (2), The Times of Israel, The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Middle East Monitor