The Libyan Parliament has passed a law criminalizing the transit of Israeli aircraft and vessels through Libyan territory, as reported by local media outlets. Monday’s decision marks a substantial reinforcement of Libya’s stance on its 1957 law, concerning the Israeli boycott.
Under the new legal amendments, any travel to or from the occupied Palestinian territories is now considered a criminal offence. Furthermore, the law extends to banning Israeli nationals from entering Libyan land, including diplomatic and administrative Libyan entities.
In an unprecedented move, the Parliament has barred Israeli civilian and military aircraft from Libyan airspace. This prohibition also extends to maritime vessels registered under the Israeli flag or to Israeli individuals, from accessing Libyan territorial waters or exclusive economic zones.
Any engagement, whether direct or indirect, between Libyan state officials or any affiliated persons with representatives of Israel is now deemed a criminal act. This law includes even brief, unplanned encounters with political or security representatives of Israel.
Moreover, the law forbids Libyan citizens from participating in any activities organized by Israel, encompassing political, economic, cultural, and sports events. Non-compliance with these provisions could lead to severe consequences, including a minimum of seven years of imprisonment, job termination, and loss of civil rights.
The legislative session, chaired by the Speaker of the Parliament, Ageela Saleh, also covered his latest diplomatic trips to Turkey and Egypt. These trips aimed to discuss and bring forth the latest political developments and foster international relations.
The recent escalation began with an Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip on 27 October 2023, as part of the ongoing conflict with Hamas. This operation followed a Hamas invasion of Israel on 7 October, prompting Israel to declare war against Hamas and mobilize its military forces.