Israel’s passage of a law approving the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks has drawn sharp condemnation from rights groups, Palestinian leaders, and international organisations, which warn that the measure violates international law and entrenches discrimination.
The legislation, passed in the Knesset on Monday by 62 votes to 48, makes hanging the default punishment for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank found guilty of killing Israelis. The bill was championed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who celebrated its passage in parliament, stating: “We made history.”
The Palestinian Authority described the law as a “dangerous escalation,” while Hamas warned it sets a “dangerous precedent” that threatens the lives of Palestinian prisoners. Mustafa Barghouti of the Palestinian National Initiative said the measure reflects a “fascist shift” within Israel’s system.
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights said the law entrenches “extrajudicial execution under the guise of law” and called for urgent international intervention. The UN Human Rights Office in Palestine also urged its repeal, stressing that the law violates Israel’s obligations under international law and reinforces systemic discrimination.
Amnesty International described the measure as “a public display of cruelty, discrimination, and utter contempt for human rights.” The Council of Europe called it a “serious regression,” while Ireland’s Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said she was “particularly concerned” about its discriminatory nature. Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani noted that European states had urged Israel to withdraw the bill, citing UN resolutions supporting a global moratorium on the death penalty.
Critics say the law comes amid intensified Israeli military operations in the West Bank and the ongoing war in Gaza, raising fears of further abuses against Palestinians.
