'People of the Land' in the Bible

"You are to say to the Israelites, 'Any man from the Israelites or from the foreigners who reside in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech must be put to death; the people of the land must pelt him with stones.

If, however, the people of the land shut their eyes to that man when he gives some of his children to Molech so that they do not put him to death,