New Israeli law could send relatives of attackers to Gaza

A Palestinian man walks next to rubble of a house destroyed in previous strikes during the Israeli military offensive, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip November 6, 2024. (File/Reuters)

• Advocacy group called the new law “a dangerous escalation in Israel’s legislative crackdown on Palestinian rights, framed under the guise of counterterrorism”

JERUSALEM: Israel’s parliament passed legislation on Thursday that could see relatives of people accused of “terror” attacks expelled from the country, possibly to the war-torn Gaza Strip, prompting concern from Arab minority rights activists.
The legislation authorizes the interior minister to deport first-degree relatives for up to 20 years “if they knew in advance of plans to carry out terror attacks but did not do everything possible to prevent the attacks.”
Far-right politicians have been pushing for this legislation for years believing it will deter Palestinian citizens of Israel and residents of annexed east Jerusalem from carrying out attacks against Israelis.
Adalah, an advocacy group for Arab minority rights in Israel, called the new law “a dangerous escalation in Israel’s legislative crackdown on Palestinian rights, framed under the guise of counterterrorism.”
“These measures enable the state to collectively punish Palestinians by authorizing the deportation of entire families,” it said in a statement.
The law, brought by lawmaker Almog Cohen, does not specify where the people would be sent, but a spokesman for the far-right politician told AFP the expulsions would be to Gaza, where Israel is at war with Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The interior minister will also have the authority to expel family members who express support for the attack or publish words of praise or encouragement for the act or for any militant group said to be behind it.
Under the new legislation, Israeli citizens can be expelled for a minimum of seven years and up to 15, while permanent of temporary residents — like many Palestinians in east Jerusalem — could be deported for between 10 and 20 years.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir hailed the legislation as a “decisive pillar in our fight against terrorism.”
He said in a statement that it “sends a clear message” to the “families of perpetrators.”
“From today, every father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister or spouse who identifies with and supports a family member who harmed citizens of Israel will be deported,” Ben Gvir added.
Suhad Bishara, legal director of rights group Adalah, said the organization planned to fight the law either through Israel’s Supreme Court, arguing it was unconstitutional, or on an individual basis as cases arise.
“This law is very problematic,” she said.