Israel considers death penalty after killing of dual citizen

Following a shooting attack in the Benjamin region that killed Netanel Chekroun, a dual Israeli-French citizen, Israeli officials are debating the application of the death penalty. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has called for the execution of the 37-year-old Hamas militant responsible for the attack, which occurred near Neve Tzuf just before Yom Kippur.

The Israeli security cabinet has scheduled a meeting with military legal advisors to examine the legality of applying capital punishment under recently passed legislation. While military officials have not expressed objections, legal experts anticipate challenges regarding the mandatory nature of the penalty, which may require validation from the Israeli Supreme Court.

The incident has also triggered a diplomatic rift between Israel and France. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a sharp rebuke of French President Emmanuel Macron, following Macron’s remarks at the United Nations suggesting that Hamas was not active in Judea and Samaria. The Israeli Prime Minister’s office described the comments as ‘grotesque absurdity,’ noting that the victim was a French citizen assassinated by a Hamas terrorist.