By Ranna Khalil | Researcher
Dear Friends,
Many greetings to you from Adalah.
In this short report, we would like to update you on three new racist Israeli laws enacted since 7 October 2023 that severely restrict Palestinians’ freedom of expression and the right to protest. These measures impose sweeping limits on political speech and dissent, forming part of an alarming escalation in efforts to silence criticism of Israel’s policies toward Palestinians and to entrench state impunity.
Over the past two years, the Knesset has advanced a large volume of legislation that further erodes core civil and political rights, particularly for Palestinians. These laws build on existing restrictions—most notably Section 24 of the 2016 Counter-Terrorism Law—that already criminalize broad forms of political expression and have long been enforced almost exclusively against Palestinians on both sides of the Green Line. Framed as “security legislation,” the new laws deepen this pattern by aiming to suppress dissent and shield Israel from growing international scrutiny of its actions.
Criminalizing “Content Consumption”
Passed on 8 November 2023, this amendment to the Counter-Terrorism Law creates a new criminal offense punishable by one year in prison for the “systematic and continuous consumption” of publications produced by designated terrorist organizations. The definition of “systematic consumption” is broad: it extends beyond explicit support, sympathy with or encouragement of terrorist acts to include content that merely documents such acts containing such expressions.
The offense requires no act of publication or communication, and thus it effectively criminalizes private thoughts and passive exposure to information. Enforcement would require intrusive surveillance, violating the right to privacy and opening the door to mass monitoring, particularly of Palestinians.
Adalah warned in October 2023 that the amendment violates basic criminal-law principles by criminalizing thought rather than actions and demanded that the Israeli authorities withdraw the bill, which was later enacted into law. On 27 May 2025, several UN Special Rapporteurs issued a communication to Israel, expressing concern that “although the offence targets the physical act of consumption, this appears to be a proxy for restricting freedom of opinion,” a right that is non-derogable under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). They further stressed that the measure is “neither necessary nor proportionate” and therefore constitutes an unlawful restriction on freedom of expression.
Criminalization of Denial of the 7 October Events
Enacted on 21 January 2025, this law establishes a five-year prison term for any written or oral statement deemed to “deny the October 7 massacre” with an alleged intent to “defend,” “sympathize with,” or “identify with” Hamas.
The law fails to distinguish between incitement, which is already prohibited under Israeli law, and legitimate political opinion, critique, or skepticism. Most troublingly, Israel has not published any official investigation or authoritative account of the events of 7 October, leaving unclear what exactly constitutes “denial.” This ambiguity exposes individuals, especially Palestinians, to prosecution for challenging misinformation, discussing inconsistencies, or questioning official narratives.
The law is designed to create widespread self-censorship and a profound chilling effect on public debate, in violation of fundamental criminal-law principles requiring clarity and foreseeability.
Denial of Entry to Israel for Political Criticism and International Accountability Work
Under this amendment, passed on 19 February 2025, foreign nationals and employees of organizations they represent may be denied entry for: (i) calling for a boycott of Israel; (ii) denying the events of 7 October; or (iii) supporting international accountability efforts against Israel, including proceedings before the ICC or other tribunals.
On 25 June 2025, the Israeli Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism invoked the amendment to recommend banning the entry of several employees belonging to five major international organizations that document human rights violations by Israel against Palestinians.
This law seeks to isolate Israel from international oversight and obstruct investigations into war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and other grave violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). It also harms Palestinian residents of the OPT by restricting their ability to engage with international bodies, observers, and investigators. In addition, it may prevent Palestinian refugees and their descendants from visiting family members in Israel and the OPT for reasons solely related to political opinion.
Adalah will issue a comprehensive paper, in three languages, analyzing these laws, as well as dozens of other racist laws enacted since the start of the war on Gaza. Publication is expected later this month and we will update you as soon as it is released.
Thank you, as always, for your support of Adalah to “Protect the Protest”.
Best wishes and in solidarity,
The Adalah team
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