Israel Cabinet Debates Death Penalty for Terrorists After Deadly Shooting

Israel's security cabinet held a limited phone discussion on Sunday, two hours before the Yom Kippur fast began, to address a recent terror attack in the West Bank. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir urged the immediate implementation of the law allowing the death penalty for terrorists. However, professional officials present clarified that the Military Advocate General was not participating in the discussion and their guidance on legal and practical steps would be required.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not reject the possibility of implementing the death penalty and instructed that a follow-up discussion on the matter be convened in the coming days, with the Military Advocate General in attendance. The discussion followed the fatal shooting attack in the Benjamin region, which claimed the life of Natanel Shicron, a father of six and a high-tech worker.

Shicron was at a spring with his eldest son to immerse himself before Yom Kippur when the attacker opened fire on their vehicle. His son was unharmed. An Israel Defense Forces soldier at the scene returned fire, and the assailant fled on foot. IDF forces apprehended the suspect approximately three hours later at a hospital in Ramallah, where he had taken himself after sustaining injuries during the attack.