Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced the start of construction on a gallows and hanging facility at an undisclosed prison location. The minister released a video on Telegram showing the site, which includes viewing booths designed for the families of victims to witness executions.
The development follows the passage of the "Death Penalty for Terrorists Law" earlier this year. The legislation established death by hanging as the default sentence for Palestinians convicted in military courts of deadly attacks. The law also applies to Israelis convicted of murder whose actions are intended to end the existence of the state of Israel.
Ben-Gvir, leader of the Otzma Yehudit party, stated that the facility fulfills a campaign promise to enact the death penalty and worsen conditions for Palestinian prisoners. Human rights groups and some domestic media outlets have criticized the move, with an editorial in the Jerusalem Post stating that the facility could provide political ammunition to Israel's opponents and does not reflect the values of wider society.
The scale of the impact involves the entire population currently held in Israeli prisons on security-related charges, as well as future defendants in military courts. While the source does not provide a specific number of individuals currently on death row or the exact number of dollars spent on the facility, it notes that Ben-Gvir has advocated for conditions to be worsened for all Palestinian prisoners. This policy shifts the Israeli justice system's handling of capital punishment from a rarely used measure to a formalized, default process for specific categories of crime.
The knock-on effects include potential international legal scrutiny and heightened tensions within the region. The United Nations previously found that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, a claim Israel has faced as far-right rhetoric has increased following the October 7, 2023, attacks that killed 1,200 people. The Jerusalem Post warned that glorifying executions could damage Israel's international standing. What happens next depends on the completion of the facility and the scheduling of first executions; however, specific dates for the first hangings have not been reported.