Zein Khalil
08 September 2026•Update: 08 September 2026
Israeli judges fear that serving on a special court set to try Hamas fighters over the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks could expose them to international sanctions, travel restrictions and security threats, Israel’s Haaretz daily reported Monday.
Judges from Israel’s military courts recently expressed reservations about joining the panel expected to try members of Hamas’s elite Nukhba force, the newspaper said.
In closed-door discussions, the judges warned that taking part in the proceedings could prompt some countries to impose sanctions on them or deny them entry.
Judicial sources told Haaretz that Israeli military court judges are already unable to stay in or transit through Gulf states.
“A considerable number of judges fear that the expected public exposure surrounding the trials could lead to further restrictions,” the sources said.
The judges have also raised concerns over their personal safety, with Israel’s VIP protection unit expected to provide security during the proceedings, according to the report.
In May, the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, approved legislation establishing a special court to try those accused of taking part in the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, Haaretz said.
In the ensuing war on Gaza, the Israeli army has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians and injured over 174,000 while destroying or damaging much of the enclave’s civilian infrastructure.