However, Lt. Col. (res.) Maurice Hirsch of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs warns that the legal process will be lengthy, and the ultimate decision will depend not only on evidence, but on Israel’s determination.

“The issue isn’t legal—Israel’s law already allows for the death penalty,” says Hirsch. “The question is whether the state has the courage to carry it out in the face of internal and international pressure.”

He argues the death penalty could serve as a tool in the fight against terrorism and deter future kidnappings aimed at freeing imprisoned terrorists. Representatives of victims’ families also call for harsher punishment on both moral and security grounds.

In short, this is not merely a legal question—it’s a political, public, and international challenge.