A law prohibiting the entry into Israel of people who deny the Holocaust or atrocities committed by Hamas during its attack on October 7, 2023, passed its third and final reading in the Knesset plenum 12-0 on Wednesday evening.

The legislation, sponsored by New Hope MK Mishel Buskila, extends an existing entry ban on those advocating boycotts against Israel, applying it to those denying the Holocaust and the October 7 massacre, as well as those advocating for the prosecution of Israelis for actions taken during their service in the IDF or other security services.

The law also applies to people working for organizations that make such statements.

“The State of Israel, like any other country in the world, must defend itself, its citizens, soldiers, and national identity,” Buskila stated on Wednesday.

“Many countries in the world prohibit the entry of hostile entities who harm their security forces. Israel is a democratic country, but it is not naive. Those who support Israel will be respectfully welcomed. Those who attempt​ to undermine our very existence, deny the horrors of the past, or harm our soldiers and citizens, have no place among us.”

On October 7, 2023, thousands of Hamas-led terrorists burst across the border into Israel, killing some 1,200 people and seizing 251 hostages, while committing many acts of brutality and sexual assault.

The International Criminal Court

© The Times of Israel