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Israel Begins Construction of New Execution Unit for Death Row Inmates
🇲🇽 Mexico /Energy & Infrastructure

Israel Begins Construction of New Execution Unit for Death Row Inmates

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency New plan
  • Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir announced the construction of a "specialized unit" for executing death row inmates.
  • Ben Gvir stated this fulfills his promise to enact a death penalty law for terrorists and establish an execution center.
  • The announcement follows a March parliamentary approval of a law imposing the death penalty by default for Palestinians convicted of fatal attacks in the West Bank.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir announced on Tuesday the commencement of construction for what he termed a "specialized unit" to execute death row inmates in the center of the country. Ben Gvir shared a video on his Telegram channel stating, "I promised to enact a death penalty law for terrorists. It has been fulfilled. I promised to establish a center. It is being implemented."

I promised to enact a death penalty law for terrorists. It has been fulfilled. I promised to establish a center. It is being implemented.

— Itamar Ben GvirAnnouncing the construction of a new execution unit.

The video shows a rudimentary structure of wood and iron under a blue tent. Ben Gvir added that the unit will feature "observation booths" allowing inmates and their families to "witness the procedures, as is customary in many countries." He also stated that "visitor permits" would be granted for them to oversee the process leading up to the execution.

Last March, the Israeli parliament approved a law mandating the death penalty by default for Palestinians in the West Bank, a territory occupied by Israel, who are convicted of carrying out fatal attacks deemed acts of terrorism by a military court. This law does not apply by default to Israeli citizens, who are tried in civilian courts. Executions are to occur within 90 days of sentencing.

We promised and we are fulfilling it. I promised to worsen the conditions of terrorists in prison and we have fulfilled it. I promised to approve the death penalty for terrorists and we have done so. And now the death row and the execution center are also beginning to take shape.

— Itamar Ben GvirReiterating his government's commitment to the death penalty.

"We promised and we are fulfilling it. I promised to worsen the conditions of terrorists in prison and we have fulfilled it. I promised to approve the death penalty for terrorists and we have done so. And now the death row and the execution center are also beginning to take shape," Ben Gvir added. He concluded, "We are making history. Our terrorists deserve only one thing: death by hanging."

Our terrorists deserve only one thing: death by hanging.

— Itamar Ben GvirExpressing his strong stance on capital punishment for those convicted of terrorism.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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