Israel advances bill to impose death penalty on Palestinian prisoners

The Israeli Knesset on Tuesday advanced a bill to impose the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners convicted of killing Israelis on "nationalistic grounds".

In the first reading, 39 members approved the bill, while 16 others opposed it. 

A bill must pass the third and final level of voting by a simple majority to become law.

The legislation, championed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, was pushed through the Knesset’s National Security Committee on 3 November, drawing widespread condemnation from human rights groups.