DaysofPal- Two Palestinian experts on prisoner affairs and international law have warned of the catastrophic consequences if a recently approved Israeli law allowing the execution of Palestinian detainees is implemented, cautioning that it may come into force in the near future.
In remarks to Safa News Agency, both experts said the legislation represents a dangerous escalation and could serve as legal cover for the longstanding policies of extrajudicial killings.
Salah Abdel Ati, head of the International Commission to Support Palestinian People’s Rights (HADASH), said the final approval of the law constitutes a serious escalation that legitimizes unlawful killings and threatens the lives of thousands of Palestinian prisoners.
He argued that passing the law despite international warnings reflects Israeli willingness to challenge global opinion and evade its obligations under international humanitarian law.
Abdel Ati added that the legislation undermines fair trial guarantees, noting that it allows for mandatory death sentences without requiring unanimous judicial agreement.
He further warned that provisions enabling executions within 90 days would deny prisoners the right to appeal or seek legal review, while the absence of provisions for pardon effectively turns the punishment into a tool of political retaliation rather than justice.
Abdel Ati said implementing the law could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, placing responsibility on the Israeli government and its National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, whom he accused of overseeing policies that have led to the deaths of more than 100 detainees in recent years.
Separately, Palestinian prisoner affairs specialist Abdel Nasser Farwana said current discussions surrounding the law created a “misleading impression” that Israeli occupation is reinstating a previously abolished punishment.
Farwana argued that, in practice, Israeli forces have long carried out executions and assassinations in the field, and that the proposed law would merely formalize such actions under a legal framework.
He suggested the legislation could soon be enforced to satisfy far-right political factions and align with a security doctrine that views prisoner exchange deals as weakening deterrence.
Farwana also pointed to growing support within segments of Israeli society to advance the law in the aftermath of the October 7 events, including attempts to frame Palestinian actions in ways that could ease international acceptance of harsher measures.
Both experts warned that adopting the law would usher in a more severe reality, where human rights efforts may be reduced to documenting executions rather than preventing them.
They also cited past cases in which Palestinian detainees died due to gunfire, torture, or medical neglect.
Earlier this week, the Israeli Knesset passed the law in its final reading. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who promoted the legislation, stated that it would apply broadly to Palestinian prisoners without exception.
The law has drawn criticism from rights advocates, who say it raises serious legal and ethical concerns, while its supporters argue it is necessary for security and deterrence.
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