Israel’s parliament has approved a law introducing the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks—a measure that has drawn sharp criticism from European countries and human-rights organizations, which consider it discriminatory.
The measure sets the death penalty as the default punishment for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank if a military court finds them guilty of deliberate deadly attacks classified as terrorism.
Under the law, those sentenced to death will be held in separate facilities without visitation rights, except for authorized personnel; legal consultations will be permitted only via video link. The sentence must be carried out within 90 days.
Israel has used the death penalty only in exceptionally rare cases—the last person executed remains Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, whose sentence was carried out in 1962.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, one of the law’s principal architects, has repeatedly appeared wearing a noose-shaped pin symbolizing executions. He has described hanging as “one option” alongside the electric chair or “euthanasia,” claiming that some doctors would supposedly be willing to assist.
The Knesset committee responsible for security matters introduced a number of amendments to the bill; last week it passed its first vote. Public broadcaster KAN reported that executions are expected to be carried out by hanging.
The law allows courts to impose death sentences without a request from prosecutors and without a unanimity requirement—a simple majority is enough. Military courts in the West Bank are also granted the authority to hand down capital punishment, while the defence minister may submit an opinion.
For Palestinians in the occupied territories, the measure effectively closes off avenues for appeal or clemency, whereas those convicted in courts inside Israel may still expect their sentences to be commuted to life imprisonment.
The initiative by Otzma Yehudit, the party led by Mr Ben-Gvir, has met serious resistance—critics warn that it would mark a significant hardening of Israel’s criminal policy.
Military officials and government representatives have also warned that the law could conflict with international law and create risks of Israeli citizens being detained abroad.
Once finally adopted, the law will enter into force, though it could still be reviewed—and potentially struck down—by Israel’s Supreme Court.
Last month, UN experts urged Israel to abandon the bill, saying it violates the right to life and is discriminatory toward Palestinians in the occupied territories. In their assessment, the measure strips courts of the ability to consider individual circumstances and impose proportionate punishments, while hanging constitutes a form of torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
The EU’s diplomatic service also condemned the initiative, stressing that the death penalty runs contrary to the right to life and may violate the absolute prohibition on torture.
In February, Amnesty International urged Israeli lawmakers to reject the bill, which, in the organization’s assessment, “would allow Israeli courts to expand the use of the death penalty in a discriminatory manner against Palestinians”.
On Sunday, Britain, France, Germany and Italy expressed “deep concern” over the law’s passage, saying it could “undermine Israel’s commitment to democratic principles”.