Israel’s parliament has passed a law allowing the deportation of family members of Palestinian attackers, including Israeli citizens, to the Gaza Strip or other locations.
Supported by members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and far-right allies, the law passed with a 61-41 vote and is expected to face court challenges. The law targets Palestinian citizens of Israel and residents of annexed east Jerusalem who had prior knowledge of attacks or showed “support or identification with the act of terrorism.” They may face deportation to Gaza or other locations for 7 to 20 years.
The ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and widespread internal displacement.
The law’s application in the occupied West Bank remains unclear, where Israel already practices demolishing homes of attackers’ families. Palestinian assailants have committed numerous stabbing, shooting, and car-ramming attacks against Israelis in recent years.
Dr. Eran Shamir-Borer, senior researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute and former international law expert for the Israeli military, commented that the law could be overturned by the Supreme Court, referencing past Israeli cases on deportation.
“The bottom line is this is completely non-constitutional and a clear conflict to Israel’s core values,” he said.
Israel took control of Gaza, the West Bank, and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war, which Palestinians seek for a future state. Although Israel withdrew settlers and soldiers from Gaza in 2005, it reoccupied parts after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack sparked the current conflict. Israel’s annexation of east Jerusalem is widely unrecognized internationally. While Palestinians there have permanent residency and the option to apply for citizenship, most opt not to due to significant challenges in the process.
Palestinians in Israel, making up around 20% of the population, have citizenship and voting rights but face widespread discrimination. Many have close family ties in the territories and often sympathize with the Palestinian cause.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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