Former chief military prosecutor selected to lead Nukhba prosecutions

Jerusalem Post/Israel NewsThe appointment comes as Israel prepares a special military court in Jerusalem to try suspects in the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led massacre and the holding of hostages in Gaza.Follow us on GoogleLITIGATION BROUGHT by over 8,000 plaintiffs is moving through the Jerusalem District Court, where they are seeking to hold the Palestinian Authority responsible for deaths, injuries, and other harm caused by October 7. Here, Nukhba Force terrorists who were captured, are seen in a jail in Israel.(photo credit: CHAIM GOLDBERG/FLASH90)OCTOBER 25, 2026 17:20Attorney Jana Modgavrishvili, a former chief military prosecutor, has been selected to lead the prosecution operation for Nukhba terrorists.The Jerusalem Post has sought clarification from the IDF regarding her responsibilities and the timetable for prosecutions. The appointment comes as Israel prepares a special military court in Jerusalem to try suspects in the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led massacre and the holding of hostages in Gaza. The planned proceedings extend beyond members of Hamas’s Nukhba force to others suspected of involvement. Knesset approves establishment of framework for prosecutionThe legislative push came from MKs Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionist Party) and Yulia Malinovsky (Yisrael Beytenu). On May 11, the Knesset approved legislation establishing a dedicated framework for the prosecutions, with 93 lawmakers voting in favor and none opposed. On June 17, Rothman and Malinovsky toured the Atarot area in northern Jerusalem, where two possible sites for the court were presented. Plans outlined at the time included nine courtrooms and seating for victims’ families, the public and journalists.MK YULIA Malinovsky and MK Simcha Rothman tour the Atarot area in northern Jerusalem, at a site designated for the construction of a special court to prosecute Hamas terrorists who took part in the October 7 attack, June 17, 2026. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)Rothman has cited proximity to Ofer Prison and crossings used by Palestinian lawyers among the logistical considerations behind the location. He also described holding the proceedings in Atarot as an expression of Israeli sovereignty. Modgavrishvili spent a little over two decades in the military, serving as a military judge and in other legal positions, and eventually, in her last four years of service, as chief military prosecutor.In June 2013, she was appointed to examine complaints by Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) interrogatees within the Justice Ministry. Her appointment formed part of a structural reform that moved the complaints examination function outside the Shin Bet, where it had previously been handled internally. The change was intended to strengthen public confidence in the handling of complaints against the agency.Yonah Jeremy Bob and Keshet Neev contributed to this report. Follow us on Google