Former Israeli captive requests permission to hang Palestinian prisoners

Former Israeli hostage Rom Braslavski, who was held captive by Hamas for several months before being released in a prisoner‑exchange deal, publicly appealed to National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir for permission to execute Palestinian prisoners by hanging. In a recorded statement released on social media, Braslavski said the deaths of his family members during the October 7 attacks and his own ordeal had left him “incapable of forgiving” and urged the minister to “grant me the authority to carry out justice through hanging.” The request was made without any formal legal basis and referenced a punitive method not sanctioned by Israeli law or the country's military justice system.

Israeli officials and legal experts responded that the proposal contravenes both domestic statutes and international humanitarian law, which prohibit extrajudicial killings and mandate due process for detainees. The Ministry of Defense declined to comment on the specific request, while the Israeli judiciary reiterated that any execution of prisoners would require a court order following a criminal trial. Human rights organizations also warned that such a policy would exacerbate tensions and undermine the rule of law. The episode highlights ongoing debate within Israel over how to address security threats and the treatment of Palestinian detainees in the aftermath of the conflict.