Criminal10/26/2026

Former Chief Military Prosecutor to Lead Proceedings Against Nukhba Terrorists

Israel Defense Forces Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir has selected attorney Zana Modzgabrishvili to head the criminal prosecution system for participants in the October 7 attack. More than 400 defendants are expected to stand trial before a special military court in Jerusalem.

Key facts

•More than 400 alleged defendants
•Court: a special military court in Jerusalem
•The first indictment may be filed in the first half of 2027
•The law was approved by the Knesset in May
•The report was updated on October 26, 2026
•Possible penalty: death penalty

Who Will Lead the Prosecution

Zana Modzgabrishvili served in the IDF for 22 years, including as a military judge, and served as Chief Military Prosecutor during her final four years of service. After being released into the reserves in 2013, she reviewed, on behalf of the Ministry of Justice, complaints by interrogated individuals against Israel Security Agency interrogators. She recently returned to reserve service and served as a prosecutor in the trial of Aviad Frija, who is charged with causing the death of Yuval Castleman in November 2023.

How the Trials Will Be Organized

Under the law approved by the Knesset in May, the cases will be heard by a special military court in Jerusalem. The trials are planned to be divided according to the sites of the massacres, including Be'eri, Nir Oz and the Nova Festival. The possibility of filing the first indictment in the first half of 2027 was also discussed in the Knesset.

What Penalties Were Established

The special court will be authorized to impose, among other penalties, the death penalty on those convicted. The law permits this not only for murder, but also for other serious crimes, including rape. Defendants charged with offenses punishable by death will not be eligible for release as part of prisoner-release deals.

What Remains Unknown

The source does not state the official name or number of the enacted law, nor does it report whether indictments had been filed against any person as of the publication date. The precise composition of the defendants and the exact date on which the trials will begin are also not stated.

What this means for you

For the victims and the victims' families, this means that the cases against those who allegedly participated in the October 7 attack will be heard in a centralized manner and grouped according to the locations of the events. The law establishes a particularly stringent regime: the possibility of imposing the death penalty and a prohibition on releasing, as part of prisoner-release deals, defendants charged with offenses punishable by death. At this stage, the trials are being prepared; no judgments have been handed down.

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