Inspired by the Holocaust Denial Law: The Knesset Passes law imprisoning who denies or promotes the October 7 Attack
The Israeli Knesset was able to pass a law criminalizing the denial or downplaying of the October 7 attack launched by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people.
The new law, which passed its third and final reading, provides for a five-year prison sentence for anyone who denies or promotes the events of October 7 with the aim of defending or sympathizing with Hamas.
The law, inspired by a 1986 law banning Holocaust denial, targets individuals who deny the attack with the intent to support or sympathize with Hamas.
The law also allows exceptions for people who speak or write about the subject in good faith, such as in legal research or during court proceedings.
Yisrael Beiteinu MK Oded Forer, who introduced the law, declared, “This legislation is a protection of collective memory and future generations against lies aimed at distorting the facts”.
At the same time, some human rights defenders have expressed concern about the impact of this law on freedom of expression, noting that this type of law should only be activated in cases that pose a real threat of violence.
