The Israeli Knesset approved a bill that grants the Minister of the Interior powers to deport relatives of Palestinian resistance fighters from within Israel. It also approved a proposal that allows the Israeli judiciary to issue prison sentences against Palestinian children under the age of 14.

Under the law, the Israeli interior minister can deport relatives of those who commit acts that Israel considers "terrorism" for up to 20 years.

According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, 61 members of the Knesset voted in favor of the controversial bill, while 41 voted against it.

The law stipulates that deportation will be to the Gaza Strip “or another destination determined according to the circumstances” if it is found that the relative of the perpetrator of the operation against Israel “had prior knowledge of the terrorist’s plan and did not take the necessary measures to prevent it.”

The new law also gives the Israeli interior minister the authority to deport any relative who “expressed support or sympathy for the terrorist act, or published praise, admiration or encouragement” for the perpetrator.

Haaretz said that deportation decisions will be made after a hearing, according to the new law, and that the law allows Arab Israeli citizens to be deported for a period ranging from 7 to 15 years, while non-Palestinians who do not hold Israeli citizenship may face deportation for a period ranging from 10 to 20 years.

In a related context, Haaretz reported that the Knesset approved a temporary order for a period of 5 years allowing Israeli courts to issue prison sentences against children under the age of 14.

Haaretz said the decision, which was supported by 55 Knesset members and voted against by 33, allows children to be imprisoned on charges related to killings motivated by "terrorism" or "on behalf of a terrorist organization," a euphemism for Palestinian resistance operations against the Israeli occupation, which it considers terrorism.