Israel’s Knesset (Wikipedia)
The Knesset plenum on Tuesday passed a new law that makes it illegal to deny, minimize, or celebrate the October 7 2023 Hamas massacre in which 1,200 people were murdered and more than 200 were taken hostage. Violation of the law comes with a sentence of up to five years in prison. The legislation passed unanimously; however, only 16 of the Knesset’s 120 members took part in the vote.
“It is proposed to add a new offense, according to which anyone who publishes things denying the October 7 massacre with the intention of defending the terrorist organization Hamas and its partners or expressing sympathy or identification with them will be charged with a criminal offense punishable by five years in prison,” says the new law.
“It is also proposed to determine that such publication will not constitute a criminal offense if it is done randomly, in good faith, or for a legitimate purpose,” it states. “Finally, it is proposed to determine that an indictment for the proposed offense will be filed by the Attorney General or with his consent.”
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The Knesset’s explanatory note to the bill states: “As we have learned from the phenomenon of Holocaust denial, lies of this kind may spread quickly and thwart the possibility of establishing the historical truth. Also, sometimes the denial of the massacre is part of an attempt to protect the perpetrators of the crimes and express support for them. In order to combat the denial of the massacre and prevent its spread both in Israel and abroad, it is proposed to establish a new offense, based on the established prohibition regarding Holocaust denial.”
The law was proposed by Yisrael Beitenu (Israel is Our Home) Party Knesset member Oded Forer.
“The horrors of October 7 cannot be denied,” Forer said upon the law’s passage.
“The truth is more important than ever – we cannot let lies and hatred win,” he added. “The State of Israel today said in a loud and clear voice: The denial of the atrocities of October 7 will not pass in silence, neither in the Knesset, nor on the street, nor in the world.”
