বাংলাAl Jazeera Staff: Human rights groups and Palestinian leaders have strongly condemned Israel’s passage of a law approving the use of the death penalty against Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks. The legislation, passed on Monday (March 30, 2026) by Israel’s Parliament, the Knesset, makes death by hanging the default punishment for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank found guilty of killing Israelis. The law was passed with 62 votes to 48 and was championed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who was seen celebrating with champagne in the parliamentary chamber.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the legislation as a “dangerous escalation,” stressing that Israel has no sovereignty over Palestinian land. Hamas slammed the law as a “dangerous precedent” that threatens the lives of prisoners and disregards international law. Mustafa Barghouti warned that this unjust law reflects a “fascist shift” within the Israeli system.
International bodies also reacted sharply. The UN Human Rights Office in Palestine called for an immediate repeal, noting it violates international prohibitions on cruel and degrading punishment. Amnesty International described the law as a “public display of cruelty and discrimination.” European leaders from the Council of Europe, Ireland, Italy, France, and Germany also expressed deep concern, calling the death penalty a legal anachronism incompatible with human rights standards.
Causes of Concern (Summary of Reactions):
- The law is inherently discriminatory as it exclusively targets Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Israel.
- It legitimizes extrajudicial killings under legislative cover, violating international humanitarian law.
- The legislation comes amid a surge in military and settler attacks and thousands of arbitrary arrests.
- The implementation of the death penalty by hanging is considered a violation of the prohibition of cruel and inhuman punishment.
- Concerns over unfair trials in Israeli military courts where Palestinians are often convicted.
- The law reflects a deep-seated fascist shift and contempt for global humanitarian norms.
- It entrenches racial segregation and the system of apartheid in the occupied territories.
- International calls for a moratorium on the death penalty are being disregarded by the Israeli government.
Recommendations from Rights Groups & Leaders:
- Immediate repeal of the discriminatory death penalty law by the Israeli authorities.
- Urgent intervention by the UN, International Committee of the Red Cross, and the international community to protect Palestinian prisoners.
- The international community must impose punitive measures against Israel to stop the shift toward fascism.
- The Israeli Supreme Court should uphold the appeal filed by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel.
- Israel must adhere to its obligations under international human rights and the Council of Europe conventions.
- Global leaders must move beyond verbal condemnation to ensure accountability for human rights violations.
- Establishment of international monitoring to oversee the treatment of Palestinian political prisoners.
- Withdrawal of the bill to respect the absolute value of human life and personhood dignity.
- Ending near-total impunity for perpetrators of unlawful killings of Palestinians.
- A rule-of-law-based approach that rejects discriminatory applications of the death penalty.
- Pressure from the EU and other allies to prevent the implementation of the law.
- Ensuring that Israel respects international sovereignty over occupied Palestinian lands.
- Protecting the rules-based international order by challenging Israel’s disregard for conventions.
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has already filed an appeal against the law with Israel’s Supreme Court, as the world closely monitors the fallout of this controversial legislation.
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