Netanyahu Revokes Citizenship of Palestinians in First Use of Controversial Law

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signed a decree revoking the citizenship of two Palestinian Israelis accused of violent acts, and ordering their deportation. The move, confirmed by the Prime Minister’s office on Tuesday, February 10th, marks the first application of a law passed in 2023 designed to punish Palestinian citizens of Israel with Israeli passports, or permanent residency permits in East Jerusalem, convicted of “terrorist” acts.

In a statement released while traveling to the United States for meetings with Donald Trump, Netanyahu stated the decree would strip citizenship from two individuals who carried out attacks “with knives and with gunfire against Israeli civilians.” While no official announcement has been made regarding their destination, Israeli media outlet Walla, reported they will be deported to the Gaza Strip.

One of the first affected by the legislation is Mahmoud Ahmed. According to Israeli media outlet Yedioth Ahronot, Ahmed was released in 2024 after serving a 23-year sentence for “multiple shootings against soldiers and Israeli civilians.” The other is Muhammad Ahmad Hussein al-Halasi, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison following a 2016 stabbing attack on two women in Jerusalem. Al-Halasi is expected to be deported upon completion of his sentence, as stipulated by the law which prohibits the return of those expelled.

Netanyahu anticipated in his statement that “many more cases like these are on the way.” Ofir Katz, a member of Netanyahu’s coalition and a proponent of the law, echoed this sentiment, stating that the deportation of “many more terrorists is underway,” a statement he previously made when announcing the initiation of procedures to apply the law to hundreds of citizens.

The legislation, an amendment to Israel’s Citizenship Law of 1952, requires three conditions to be met. Those affected must be convicted of violent acts and have served a prison sentence. It must also be demonstrated that they have received stipends from the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). Israeli authorities present this financial support as a means of “rewarding heinous acts,” as Netanyahu stated on Monday, February 10th.

The PNA provides financial assistance to prisoners held in Israeli jails, often transferring funds to families or representatives of those incarcerated, and even to relatives of attackers who have been killed. The West Bank, one of three Palestinian territories occupied by Israel alongside Gaza and East Jerusalem, has one of the highest incarceration rates globally.

The measure was a key demand of the more radical right-wing factions that ultimately enabled the formation of Israel’s current government, the most right-leaning in the country’s seven-decade history, established in 2022 when Netanyahu allied with the far-right to remain in power. Following its approval in February 2023, the Israeli human rights group Adalah denounced the amendment as undermining the already precarious status of Palestinians under Israeli rule, accusing Israeli leaders of promoting a measure “exclusively aimed at Palestinians” that “establishes two separate legal systems based on Jewish supremacy.” Approximately one-fifth of Israel’s ten million citizens are Arab.

In addition to Gaza, the law also allows for deportation to areas of the West Bank under the control of the PNA. However, Israel’s Security Cabinet on Sunday, February 9th, approved a series of measures extending Israeli jurisdiction over that area, effectively advancing its de facto annexation.

The move to revoke citizenship and deport Palestinian Israelis is likely to further exacerbate tensions in the region. The 2023 law itself has been widely criticized by human rights organizations as a violation of international law and a discriminatory practice. The decision to implement it now, coupled with the expansion of Israeli jurisdiction in the West Bank, signals a hardening of policy towards Palestinians and raises concerns about the future of Palestinian rights and political status within Israel and the occupied territories. The timing of the announcement, coinciding with Netanyahu’s visit to meet with former U.S. President Donald Trump, suggests an attempt to demonstrate strength and resolve on issues of national security and regional policy.

The implications of this decision extend beyond the immediate fate of the two individuals affected. It sets a precedent for the potential revocation of citizenship for a larger number of Palestinian Israelis, creating a climate of fear and uncertainty within the community. It raises questions about the fundamental principles of citizenship and the rights of minorities within Israel, potentially impacting the country’s international standing and its relationship with the international community.