Israel Approves Controversial Law Allowing Deportation of Family Members of “Terrorists”
The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, has passed a controversial law that empowers the government to deport family members of alleged “terrorists,” including its own citizens, to the Gaza Strip and other locations, Al Jazeera reports.
The legislation, approved by a vote of 61-41, has sparked widespread condemnation and is likely to face legal challenges.
The bill, sponsored by Hanoch Milwidsky of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, grants the Interior Minister the authority to deport first-degree relatives of alleged attackers. This includes parents, siblings, or spouses who are deemed to have “expressed support or identification” with the alleged “terrorist” or have failed to report information about “an act of terrorism or a terrorist organization.”
The law would apply to Palestinian citizens of Israel, residents of occupied East Jerusalem, and even Israeli citizens, who would retain their citizenship despite being expelled. Suspects will have the right to a hearing before the Interior Minister, who will then have 14 days to make a decision and issue a deportation order.
The expelled individuals could be sent to Gaza or other destinations for periods ranging from 7 to 15 years for citizens and 10 to 20 years for legal residents.
Eran Shamir-Borer, a senior researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute and a former international law expert for the Israeli military, believes the legislation is likely to be struck down by the Supreme Court based on previous rulings against deportation.
The passing of this law comes amidst a backdrop of escalating tensions in the region. Israel has been engaged in military operations in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and Lebanon since October 7, resulting in the deaths of over 43,000 Palestinians in Gaza, hundreds in the occupied West Bank, and over 3,000 in Lebanon.
This legislation, coupled with the recent ban on the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), further highlights the increasingly hardline approach being adopted by the Israeli government. Critics argue that these actions are aimed at further marginalizing and punishing Palestinians, while supporters claim they are necessary to combat terrorism.
The law has been met with widespread condemnation from human rights groups and international organizations who view it as a violation of fundamental human rights and a further escalation of Israel’s discriminatory policies against Palestinians.
