'A vaccine against murder'? Israel split over return of death penalty

Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, a controversial bill proposing the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of fatal terrorist acts is being debated in Israel. The proposed law has sparked intense debate, dividing Israeli society, including families of victims, and drawing criticism from human rights groups who call it unethical and discriminatory. Supporters, like Dr. Valentina Gusak, who lost her daughter in the attacks, view it as a necessary deterrent and a form of preventative justice. While the death penalty technically exists in Israel, it has only been used twice, most recently in 1962 against Adolf Eichmann. The bill is currently under consideration in the Israeli parliament.

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