Retired Colonel Zhanna Modzgrishvili Appointed Chief Prosecutor for Hamas Trials

Israel has appointed retired Colonel Zhanna Modzgrishvili as the chief prosecutor for an upcoming special tribunal that will try Hamas militants involved in the October 7th attacks. Modzgrishvili, who previously headed the military prosecution and served as a military court judge, returned to active reserve duty following the outbreak of hostilities and handled the high-profile case of Yuval Kestelman's murder. The tribunal, established under a special military court law passed by the Knesset in May 2026, will impose strict rules for prosecuting those involved in attacks and hostage-taking. The law explicitly allows for the death penalty for murder and sexual violence and prohibits convicted individuals from being included in future prisoner exchanges. Hearings will take place in Jerusalem, with the tribunal structured into first and appellate instances. Judges will be appointed by the president in consultation with the Chief of Staff. The legislation designates all defendants as individuals who have committed crimes, deviating from standard terminology for suspects. The proceedings will have a special protocol, exempting the court from certain standard criminal procedure code requirements. Sessions can be closed to the public, and the publication of materials may be restricted for security and privacy reasons. Full case archives will be preserved by the state. Defense lawyers must be licensed in Israel, and if a defendant cannot afford one, the court will appoint an independent specialist, with costs to be recovered from the Palestinian Authority. The Minister of Defense is responsible for overseeing the tribunal's preparation and verdict execution, reporting regularly to the Knesset's legislative committee.