Israel has passed a new law blocking entry to people who deny the Holocaust or the October 7 Hamas attacks. The law also applies to anyone who supports prosecuting Israeli soldiers and officials for their actions in defense of the country.
The Knesset approved the measure, introduced by MK Mishel Buskila of the New Hope party. It expands an existing law that bars entry to supporters of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Now, those who deny historical atrocities or work with organizations that promote such views will also be banned.
“The State of Israel must defend itself,” Buskila said. “Those who support Israel are welcome. Those who try to undermine it or deny the suffering of its people are not.”
The law responds to recent efforts to prosecute Israeli leaders and soldiers abroad. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Israeli soldiers have also faced legal threats while traveling. One soldier left Brazil to avoid a war crimes investigation. Two others returned home from Amsterdam after activists tried to have them arrested.
Last month, the Knesset also made it illegal to deny the October 7 attacks. That law, introduced by MK Oded Forer of Yisrael Beytenu, follows the model of Holocaust denial laws in Europe. Critics have raised concerns about free speech, but supporters argue that Israel has a responsibility to protect its history and its people.
This law reinforces that stance. Those who reject the truth or seek to harm Israel’s security forces will not be allowed in.
