Netanyahu Seeks to Revoke Israeli Citizenship of Palestinians Convicted of Violence
The legal action
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked a court to strip the Israeli citizenship of two Palestinian men who were convicted of violent crimes. The request relies on a 2023 law that allows citizenship revocation and deportation for people convicted of certain violent offenses who also received payments tied to the Palestinian Authority.
This appears to be the first time the 2023 statute is being used in this way. The government says the combination of the crimes and the payments justifies removing citizenship and ordering deportation to Gaza once sentences end.
The people involved
Two men named in the proceedings are Mohamad Ahmad, from Jerusalem, who was convicted for a 2002 shooting and served roughly 23 years, and Mohammed Ahmad Hussein al-Halsi, who was sentenced in 2016 for stabbing incidents and served an 18-year term. Officials say both received payments while in prison.
Under the government request, Mohamad Ahmad would be deported immediately, while al-Halsi would face removal after completing his sentence. The 2023 law targets citizens or permanent residents convicted of acts described as breaches of loyalty to the state, including terrorism.
Why this is prompting debate
The move has sparked a debate over how the law will be applied. Supporters point to the law’s aim to punish violent acts and highlight connections between certain payments and attacks. Others emphasize that the same payments also function as a support system for many families with relatives in detention and warn that tying deportation to that fund could create uneven outcomes.
Critics also raise questions about equality and legal protections when nationality can be revoked after a prison term ends, and the government has indicated it plans to open similar cases in the future. For now, the request marks a notable, and contentious, first test of the 2023 legislation.