New Anti-Crime Law Leads to First Precedent-Setting Prison Sentence
A man in Hadera was sentenced to 21 months in prison for violating a restraining order under Israel's new anti-crime law. This marks the first known prison sentence of its kind, intended as "active and uncompromising deterrence." The violations included driving and prohibited communication, despite the defense arguing the law is draconian and the offenses minor.
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- Bahaa Gaber received a 21-month prison sentence for violating a restraining order in Hadera.
- The sentence is reportedly the first of its kind in Israel under a new anti-crime law.
- The court cited "active and uncompromising deterrence" as the reason for the sentence.
- Violations included driving and prohibited contact with specific individuals.
- The defense argued the law is draconian and infringes on basic human rights.
A District Court in Hadera has sentenced Bahaa Gaber to 21 months in prison for violating a restraining order issued under a new law targeting crime organizations. This is reportedly the first such sentence in Israel, described by the court as "active and uncompromising deterrence." The violations included driving a private vehicle and communicating through prohibited means with individuals he was forbidden to contact.
In December 2025, the Haifa District Court initially issued the restraining order, which prohibited Gaber from contacting specific individuals, using any vehicle, and accessing communication networks or the internet. The order was later made permanent and extended.
Gaber's defense attorney argued that the law is unprecedented and draconian, enacted as a temporary measure for only two years, and that it significantly infringes upon basic human rights and fundamental laws. The defense claimed Gaber's violations were minor, did not involve independent criminal offenses posing a risk to life, and that the content of the communications was social and innocent.