DaysofPal- Human rights organizations and Palestinian leaders have strongly condemned a new Israeli law authorizing the use of the death penalty against Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks, describing the measure as discriminatory and in violation of international law.
The bill was a primary objective for far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who celebrated the victory in the parliamentary chamber. Ben-Gvir dismissed international pressure, specifically addressing the European Union by stating that Israel would not submit to external threats.
The domestic legal landscape is already shifting in response, as the Association for Civil Rights in Israel has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court to challenge the law’s constitutionality. This legislative move occurs against a backdrop of heightened tension, characterized by increased military operations and thousands of arrests in the West Bank.
Legal Escalation and Local Defiance
The Palestinian Authority labeled the law a dangerous escalation, arguing that it seeks to legitimize extrajudicial killings under a legislative veneer. Similarly, Hamas described the law as a dangerous precedent that threatens the lives of prisoners and demonstrates a total disregard for humanitarian norms.
Prominent Palestinian figure Mustafa Barghouti also voiced concern, warning that the law could be used to target political prisoners and activists. He described it as evidence of a deepening shift within Israel’s political system and criticized the international community for failing to impose consequences.
Rights groups echoed these concerns. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights condemned the law in the strongest terms, saying it entrenches a long-standing policy of unlawful killings under legal cover. The organization urged immediate international intervention, warning that continued inaction would further erode accountability and global legal norms.
From an international perspective, the UN Human Rights Office called for an immediate repeal, noting that the death penalty violates the prohibition of cruel and inhuman punishment and reinforces systems of racial segregation and apartheid.
Similarly, Amnesty International described the legislation as a stark display of discrimination and disregard for human rights. The group linked the measure to what it called a broader pattern of impunity in cases involving alleged unlawful killings of Palestinians, arguing that the law formalizes such practices.
European officials also expressed alarm. Alain Berset, representing the Council of Europe, characterized the move as a serious regression, stating that the death penalty is incompatible with modern human rights standards, particularly when applied in a discriminatory manner. He indicated that the council would monitor the implications of the law closely.
Ireland’s Foreign Minister Helen McEntee criticized the legislation, highlighting concerns over its discriminatory nature and reaffirming Ireland’s opposition to capital punishment in all circumstances. Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani noted that several European countries, including Italy, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, had urged Israel to withdraw the bill prior to its passage, emphasizing that international commitments to limit the use of the death penalty must be upheld.
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