Government bill · 25th Knesset · published as law 26 March 2026
חוק כליאתם של לוחמים בלתי חוקיים (תיקון מס' 4 והוראת שעה - חרבות ברזל) (תיקון מס' 7), התשפ"ו-2026Incarceration of Unlawful Combatants (Amendment No. 4 and Temporary Provision – Swords of Iron) (Amendment No. 7) Law, 2026 · automatic translation · suggest a correction
Status: התקבלה בקריאה שלישית
Topics: Military and defense*, Courts and criminal law*, Emergency, war and COVID · * from the Knesset's official law classification · no asterisk — automatically from words in the title
Official summary of the law (Knesset)
The Law on the Incarceration of Unlawful Combatants, 2002, regulates the incarceration of those who have taken part in hostile acts against the State of Israel or who belong to forces carrying out hostile acts, and who are not defined as prisoners of war. The Law establishes a regulated procedure for issuing incarceration orders and mechanisms for oversight and judicial review, and includes a special arrangement for cases in which the Government has declared war or significant military operations. Due to the large scope of detainees during the Iron Swords War, a temporary provision was established that extended the periods specified in the Law and adjusted the authorizing ranks. Now, under the Law on the Incarceration of Unlawful Combatants (Amendment No. 4 and Temporary Provision – Iron Swords) (Amendment No. 7), 2026, the validity of the temporary provision was extended by an additional three months. It was determined that, in light of operational needs, the special arrangements for the fighting period will remain in effect until 30 June 2026. In addition, in order to maintain legislative continuity, it was determined that the amendment will enter into force on 1 April 2026.
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Hebrew original
חוק כליאתם של לוחמים בלתי חוקיים, התשס"ב–2002, מסדיר את כליאתם של מי שנטלו חלק בפעולות איבה נגד מדינת ישראל או נמנו עם כוחות המבצעים פעולות איבה, ואינם מוגדרים כשבויי מלחמה. החוק קובע הליך מוסדר להוצאת צווי כליאה ומנגנוני בקרה וביקורת שיפוטית, וכולל הסדר מיוחד למקרים שבהם הממשלה הכריזה על מלחמה או על פעולות צבאיות משמעותיות. בשל היקף העצורים הרב במלחמת חרבות ברזל, נקבעה הוראת שעה שהאריכה את התקופות המנויות בחוק והתאימה את הדרגים המאשרים. כעת, במסגרת חוק כליאתם של לוחמים בלתי חוקיים (תיקון מס' 4 והוראת שעה – חרבות ברזל) (תיקון מס' 7), התשפ"ו-2026, הוארך תוקפה של הוראת השעה בשלושה חודשים נוספים. נקבע כי נוכח הצרכים המבצעיים, ההסדרים המיוחדים לתקופת הלחימה יעמדו בתוקפם עד ליום ט"ו בתמוז התשפ"ו (30 ביוני 2026). כמו כן, על מנת לשמור על רצף חקיקתי, נקבע כי התיקון ייכנס לתוקפו ביום י"ד בניסן התשפ"ו (1 באפריל 2026).
Readings
- 16 March 2026 · First readingהצעת חוק כליאתם של לוחמים בלתי חוקיים (תיקון מס' 4 והוראת שעה - חרבות ברזל), התשפ"ו-2026Incarceration of Unlawful Combatants (Amendment No. 4 and temporary provision - Swords of Iron) Bill, 2026autono roll call
- 25 March 2026 · Third readingהצעת חוק כליאתם של לוחמים בלתי חוקיים (תיקון מס' 4 והוראת שעה - חרבות ברזל) (תיקון מס' 7), התשפ"ו-2026Incarceration of Unlawful Combatants (Amendment No. 4 and Temporary Provision – Swords of Iron) (Amendment No. 7) Bill, 2026autoLaw passed13 for · 3 against
What was said in the plenum
The bill seeks to extend the validity of the temporary provision in the Law on Imprisonment of Unlawful Combatants, which was adopted following the Iron Swords War, due to the continued need for special arrangements for the imprisonment of the many unlawful combatants captured during the fighting, while adjusting the deadlines set in the law to operational needs. The first-reading debate did not address the substance of the extension itself but broadened into general criticism of the management of the war against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, and of the degree of transparency toward the public.
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Hebrew original
הצעת החוק מבקשת להאריך את תוקפה של הוראת השעה בחוק כליאתם של לוחמים בלתי חוקיים, שהתקבלה בעקבות מלחמת חרבות ברזל, בשל הצורך הנמשך בהסדרים מיוחדים לכליאת לוחמים בלתי חוקיים רבים שנתפסו בלחימה, תוך התאמת מועדים הקבועים בחוק לצרכים המבצעיים. הדיון בקריאה הראשונה לא עסק בתוכן ההארכה עצמה אלא הורחב לביקורת כללית על ניהול המלחמה מול חמאס, חיזבאללה ואיראן ועל מידת השקיפות כלפי הציבור.
Arguments for
- The security situation and operational needs require a further extension of the temporary provision, since the time periods set in the original law cannot be met given the scale of unlawful combatants held in custody.Boaz Bismuth (Likud), Amichay Eliyahu (Otzma Yehudit)
- Some of the dates set in the temporary provision can be adjusted and even shortened in accordance with the position of the operational bodies.Amichay Eliyahu (Otzma Yehudit)
Arguments against
- Hamas has rehabilitated itself considerably in terms of manpower, equipment, and control of tunnels, which raises doubt as to whether the decisive victory for which soldiers fought and paid a heavy price has been achieved.Oded Forer (Yisrael Beytenu)
- There has been renewed deterioration in the north despite previous declarations about the removal of threats, and the Northern Shield plan has not yet been implemented, which endangers residents who have returned to their homes.Oded Forer (Yisrael Beytenu)
- There is a need to set an explicit goal of dismantling Hezbollah and to actually carry it out, unlike what happened with Hamas, which remained in power.Oded Forer (Yisrael Beytenu)
- Official spokespeople and the media present the public with a misleading and overly optimistic picture that does not match the reality citizens are experiencing, and the truth should be told to the public.Yulia Malinovsky (Yisrael Beytenu)
- The situation in Gaza, with Hamas's rehabilitation, could lead to another 7 October, and this reality must not be accepted.Yulia Malinovsky (Yisrael Beytenu)
Who spoke (4)
| Member | Faction | Readings | Speeches | In the final vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boaz Bismuth | Likud coalition | Third reading | 1 | for |
| Amichay Eliyahu | Otzma Yehudit coalition | First reading | 1 | no record |
| Oded Forer | Yisrael Beytenu opposition | First reading | 1 | no record |
| Yulia Malinovsky | Yisrael Beytenu opposition | First reading | 1 | no record |
An automatic summary of the plenum transcripts: the debate on the bill at every reading it was voted on. Arguments are given as the speakers made them; this is not an assessment. The list of speakers comes from the transcript, without a model. Transcripts of the sittings: 1, 2
Reservations to the second reading
No reservations were filed to this bill.
Asked to speak: Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid), Meir Cohen (Yesh Atid), Karine Elharrar (Yesh Atid), Meirav Cohen (Yesh Atid), Elazar Stern (Yesh Atid), Mickey Levy (Yesh Atid), Merav Ben Ari (Yesh Atid), Ram Ben Barak (Yesh Atid), Yoav Segalovitz (Yesh Atid), Boaz Toporovsky (Yesh Atid), Michal Shir Segman (Yesh Atid), Yorai Lahav Hertzanu (Yesh Atid), Vladimir Beliak (Yesh Atid), Ron Katz (Yesh Atid), Matti Sarfatti Harcavi (Yesh Atid), Tatiana Mazarsky (Yesh Atid), Yasmin Fridman (Yesh Atid), Debbie Biton (Yesh Atid), Moshe Turpaz (Yesh Atid), Simon Davidson (Yesh Atid), Naor Shiri (Yesh Atid), Shelly Tal Meron (Yesh Atid), Yaron Levi (Yesh Atid), Adi Ezuz (Yesh Atid)
Reservations, sections and other votes (1)
In order. Votes on reservations and individual sections are shown separately from the vote on the bill as a whole.
- 25 March 2026 · Second reading · סעיפים 1-2הצעת חוק כליאתם של לוחמים בלתי חוקיים (תיקון מס' 4 והוראת שעה - חרבות ברזל) (תיקון מס' 7), התשפ"ו-2026Incarceration of Unlawful Combatants (Amendment No. 4 and Temporary Provision – Swords of Iron) (Amendment No. 7) Bill, 2026auto12 for · 3 againstVote on sections of the bill