The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, has given its final approval to a controversial bill that introduces the death penalty for Palestinians found guilty of deadly attacks in the occupied West Bank. This significant legislative move redefines the legal framework for capital punishment in Israel.
Under the new law, military courts are empowered to impose capital punishment without requiring a unanimous decision, a change that significantly lowers the threshold for death sentences. Reports indicate that executions, if carried out, would occur within 90 days, with hanging cited as the primary method.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced his support for the measure, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a key advocate, lauded it as an essential deterrent against future attacks.
This law represents a notable shift in Israeli policy, as the nation has rarely employed the death penalty since the execution of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in 1962.
The legislation has drawn widespread condemnation from various international bodies and human rights organizations. European governments, the European Union, and groups like Amnesty International have criticized it as discriminatory and a potential breach of international law. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also denounced the law, viewing it as an attempt to intimidate the Palestinian people.
While the legislation could still face challenges before Israel’s Supreme Court, its passage has already escalated regional tensions and generated considerable international concern.