Israel’s parliament passed a law that would allow the deportation of families of Palestinians accused of involvement in attacks.
Israel’s Parliament passed a law early on Thursday that would allow the deportation of family members of Palestinians accused of being involved in attacks to Gaza or other locations— even if they are Israeli citizens.
The new law, supported by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and his far-right allies, targets Palestinian citizens of Israel and residents of annexed east Jerusalem.
The legislation, which passed with a 61-41 vote, is seen as a significant escalation in Israel’s response to Palestinian violence, but legal experts warn that it is unlikely to be implemented due to its constitutional and legal challenges.
Under its provisions, family members who knew in advance of an attack or who express support for acts of terrorism could be deported for a period of seven to 20 years.Is Israel’s New Law Unconstitutional?
The law’s timing is especially sensitive, as it comes amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, which has led to tens of thousands of deaths and extensive internal displacement.
It remains unclear whether the law would be applied in the occupied West Bank, where Israel already demolishes the homes of attackers’ families as part of its long-standing policy.
Oded Feller, a legal adviser for the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, dismissed the measure as “populist nonsense.” He stressed that the Interior Ministry has no legal mechanism to deport Israeli citizens or residents to Gaza or a foreign country.
