Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has called for the death penalty, which is dormant on Israel's law books. The hostages have already been threatened with execution by Hamas and are at risk of being hurt or killed in the military offensive launched by Israel in response to the Oct 7 attack. "CONFUSED PRIORITIES"The only court-ordered execution in Israel was of convicted Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in 1962. The conservative Likud party of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shown little interest in advancing it during its long rule. Linor Dan-Calderon, three of whose relatives are hostages, accused Ben-Gvir's party of having "confused priorities".

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Persons: Israel, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Ben, Adolf Eichmann, Benjamin Netanyahu, Linor Dan, Calderon, You've, Eichmann, Timothy Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, REUTERS Acquire, Palestinian, Israel's, National, State, Likud, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza JERUSALEM, Gaza