The Israeli parliament passed a law on Thursday morning that allows the deportation of family members of Palestinian attackers, including citizens of that country, AP writes.
Under this law, they would be deported to war-torn Gaza or elsewhere.
The law, championed by members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and his far-right allies, passed with 61 votes in favor and 41 votes against.
However, it is expected to be challenged in court.
The law would apply to Palestinian citizens of Israel and residents of annexed East Jerusalem who had prior knowledge of the attacks by family members, or who "express support for or identify with terrorist acts."
They would be deported either to Gaza or to other countries for a period of seven to 20 years.
The war between Israel and Hamas, a group declared a terrorist organization by the United States of America and the European Union, continues in Gaza, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed, and most of the population has been internally displaced several times.
It is not clear whether the law will apply in the occupied West Bank, where Israel maintains a strict policy of destroying the family homes of attackers.
Eran Shamir-Bohrer, a researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute and a former international legal expert for the Israeli military, said that if the law went to the Supreme Court, it would likely be overturned, based on past Israeli deportation cases.
"The bottom line is that this law is completely unconstitutional and against Israel's fundamental values," Shamir-Bohrer said.
Israel occupied the West Bank, along with Gaza and East Jerusalem during the Middle East War of 1967. The Palestinians want these three territories to be part of their future state.
It withdrew troops from Gaza in 2005, but has reoccupied parts of the territory since Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, sparking the war.
Most of the international community does not recognize Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem. Palestinians in this country have permanent residency and are allowed to apply for citizenship, but most choose not to. Those who are face a number of obstacles.
Palestinians living in Israel make up about 20 percent of the country's population. They have citizenship and the right to vote, but face great discrimination.
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