Early Thursday, the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) passed a contentious law permitting the deportation of family members of Palestinians involved in attacks on Israelis.
The bill, approved in its second and third readings with a 61-41 vote, is now legally binding.
Critics argue that the law disproportionately targets Arab citizens of Israel and Palestinian residents of occupied East Jerusalem.
Although the legislation does not specify deportation destinations, Israeli media reports suggest that Gaza may be a likely option.
The law empowers the interior minister to order the expulsion of relatives if evidence indicates that a family member had prior knowledge of an attack or expressed support for it.
According to a Knesset statement, individuals holding Israeli citizenship could face deportation for a period of 7-15 years, while those with legal residence permits could face deportation for 10-20 years.
There has been no immediate comment from Palestinian officials regarding the law.
This development comes shortly after the Israeli Knesset passed another law enabling the dismissal of Arab teachers who show support for attacks on Israelis.
Tensions in the Palestinian territories have intensified amid Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in nearly 43,400 deaths, predominantly women and children, following a Hamas-led attack last year.
Israel is currently facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its conduct in the blockaded Gaza Strip.
