The Israeli Minister of Justice declared support for the death penalty for certain crimes, ensuring case preparation facilitates prosecution for offenses punishable by capital punishment, according to a statement attributed to Michael Shemesh. This stance, as reported by Michael Shemesh, emphasizes that the ultimate decision on implementing the death penalty would rest with the Prime Minister in consultation with security forces. This development occurs within the context of ongoing discussions and reports concerning the status of abductees and bodies held by Hamas, as well as security alerts in Eilat. Previous reporting from this morning indicated that former mediator Bashara Behabah stated Hamas is ready to return all abductees but faces logistical challenges in recovering bodies due to rubble in Gaza. The U.S. has previously denied Hamas violated the ceasefire regarding body returns, citing devastation in Gaza and focusing on the release of live hostages. Alerts were also activated in Eilat this morning due to a suspected hostile aircraft intrusion, which was later declared a false alarm by the IDF and Home Front Command.
