Netanyahu requests court to revoke Israeli citizenship of Palestinians following terrorism convictions

Netanyahu Seeks Revocation of Citizenship for Convicted Palestinians

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approached a court to take away the citizenship of two Palestinian men who have been convicted of terrorist activities.

This move seems to mark the first application of a law enacted three years ago, which permits the revocation of citizenship and deportation of Palestinian individuals convicted of specific violent crimes, including terrorism, particularly if they receive financial support from the Palestinian Authority.

In his court documents, Netanyahu emphasized that the seriousness of the crimes and the alleged payments the men received justified stripping them of their citizenship and expelling them from Israel. He has consistently argued that these funds incentivize violent acts against civilians.

On the other hand, Palestinian officials countered that such payments are safeguards for many families with relatives in Israeli custody. They accused Netanyahu of exaggerating the significance of the few individuals involved in the violence.

When the law was initially passed, critics expressed concern that it would allow differential treatment between Jews and Palestinians in Israel’s legal framework. Civil rights advocates noted that the deportation provisions, based on funds to the Palestinian Authority, might disproportionately affect Palestinians while letting Jewish Israelis, even those involved in attacks against Palestinians, avoid similar repercussions.

Netanyahu announced recently that legal proceedings against the two individuals have started, with plans for additional cases to follow.

Israeli officials have stated that one man, Mohammad Ahmad, originally from Jerusalem, was convicted of “terrorist offenses and receipt of funds related to terrorism.” He was sentenced for a shooting incident in 2002 and served 23 years, being released in 2024, after which he reportedly accessed financial compensation.

The second man, Mohamed Ahmad Hussein al-Khalsi, was sentenced to 18 years in 2016 for stabbing an elderly woman and is also said to have received funds while incarcerated.

According to the new law, Ahmad will be deported immediately, while al-Khalsi will face deportation after completing his sentence. The law applies to citizens or permanent residents convicted of violations deemed disloyal to Israel, including acts of terrorism.

Hassan Jabareen, leading the Adalah Legal Center, criticized this decision as a “cynical propaganda move.” He argued that stripping citizenship breaches fundamental legal principles, particularly targeting individuals who have already served their time.