DaysofPal- The Knesset on Monday evening approved, in its second and third and final readings, a controversial law allowing the execution of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, marking what observers describe as a dangerous turning point in the treatment of detainees.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that lawmakers passed the core provisions of the bill—initiated by the party of Itamar Ben-Gvir—by a vote of 62 to 48.
The report added that despite the law’s controversial and discriminatory nature, it is expected to be challenged in Israel’s Supreme Court over questions of constitutionality.
Voting began at 8:00 p.m. Jerusalem time. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voted in favor of the law, while opposition leader Yair Lapid, Benny Gantz, and Arab parties voted against it.
During the session, Gantz told lawmakers, “I have killed more terrorists than most people sitting here. I support the death penalty for terrorists, but I oppose the provocations carried out by Ben-Gvir.”
Key Provisions of the Law
The legislation was introduced by Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party and Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu, along with Likud lawmaker Nissim Vaturi.
Under the amended version, a person who intentionally causes death “with the aim of undermining the existence of the State of Israel” may be sentenced either to death or life imprisonment. This differs from the original draft, which required a mandatory death sentence.
The Knesset’s National Security Committee had earlier approved the bill in preparation for the final vote.
The initial proposal included mandatory execution within 90 days, with no possibility of pardon or sentence reduction. However, the final version grants judges discretion to choose between execution and life imprisonment, according to Israeli media reports.
Palestinian Rejection and Fears of Implementation
At the same time, Israel’s prison service has begun practical steps in preparation for carrying out executions once the law takes effect, signaling a move toward implementation.
Palestinian organizations strongly rejected the law. The Palestinian Prisoner Society warned that the legislation represents a dangerous escalation, raising concerns it could be enforced despite international human rights warnings.
The Palestine Center for Prisoners’ Studies said around 220 prisoners could face execution under the law, including 118 serving life or similar sentences, particularly detainees from Gaza.
Prisoner advocacy groups called for urgent international intervention, saying they have contacted the United Nations and other human rights bodies to halt the law and warn of its rapid escalation.
They argued that international silence and complicity have enabled Israel to intensify its actions, describing the law as “the peak of a genocidal trajectory.”
European Warning
The European Union has warned Israel it could face sanctions if the law is implemented.
Channel 12 reported that senior European officials are holding intensive talks with Israeli counterparts to prevent the law’s enactment.
Potential measures include suspending or canceling the EU-Israel Association Agreement, halting trade, technological, and scientific cooperation, and freezing political dialogue.
Human Rights Concerns
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel previously stated that the death penalty contradicts “the sanctity of life and human dignity.”
Public health leader Hagai Levine warned that capital punishment could increase violence rather than reduce it.
In a letter signed by 16 former Israeli officials—including two former heads of the Shin Bet security agency—the signatories warned the law “will not enhance deterrence,” but instead “will seriously harm Israel’s security and endanger Jews and Israelis worldwide.”
Meanwhile, nine Palestinian human rights organizations warned last year that the law could lead to “mass executions” of Palestinian prisoners if passed. They said Israeli authorities have effectively carried out executions for years through various means outside legal frameworks.
The warning appeared in a joint position paper issued by groups including Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, Al-Haq, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, and others.
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