Following Defense Minister Israel Katz’s directive, Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth signed an amendment today (Sunday) enabling the application of the “death penalty for terrorists” law in Judea and Samaria—legislation pushed through the Knesset last month by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party. Starting today, the default sentence for a terrorist who murders Jews in Judea and Samaria will be execution.
Following the Knesset’s approval of the death penalty law for terrorists—initiated by Ben Gvir—Defense Minister Katz directed the IDF to begin implementing the law’s provisions across the security establishment, starting with amending the security regulations order for the West Bank. Now, under Katz’s instruction, the Central Command chief has signed the amendment allowing the death penalty to be applied to terrorists in Judea and Samaria in accordance with the law.
This marks a sharp policy shift after the October 7 massacre—a terrorist who murders Jews can no longer count on prisoner exchanges, conditions, or hope of future release. The message is clear: anyone who chooses murderous terror against Jews should know that the State of Israel will pursue maximum punishment.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Katz, and National Security Minister Ben Gvir advanced the move from one clear position: against murderous terror, there’s no containment—you strike decisively, punish, and create a price no terrorist will want to pay.
Defense Minister Israel Katz: “The era of containment is over. Terrorists who murder Jews won’t sit in prison in comfortable conditions, won’t wait for deals, and won’t dream of release—they’ll pay the heaviest price. I commend my colleague, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who led this important law with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s backing.
“Immediately after the law’s approval, I directed the IDF to implement it in Judea and Samaria as well, and today, with the Central Command chief’s signature on the amendment, we’re turning the new policy into reality. Our message to every terrorist is clear: whoever raises a hand against a Jew, whoever harms IDF soldiers or Israeli citizens—the State of Israel will pursue him, reach him, and exact maximum punishment.”
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir: “We promised—and delivered. A terrorist who murders Jews should know his end won’t be in a release deal, but in a death sentence. I commend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, my colleague Defense Minister Israel Katz, and the Central Command chief for advancing and implementing this important policy. After October 7, the State of Israel is changing the equation. Against murderous terror, you don’t fold and you don’t contain—you strike decisively.”
Col. (res.) Maurice Hirsch, former chief military prosecutor for Judea and Samaria, told Channel 14: “The signed order created a new reality. Until now, the death penalty that existed in Judea and Samaria law was a dead letter, mainly because the military prosecution never once requested the death penalty for any terrorist.
“The innovations in the new order are that the death penalty becomes the default sentence unless special reasons are found to impose a different punishment, and the authority to impose the death penalty doesn’t depend on the prosecution’s request. The discretion given to the court is extremely important, because it’s highly doubtful whether a provision establishing the death penalty as a mandatory sentence, without the possibility of exception, would pass a legality test.”