Israel Passes Law Allowing Execution of Palestinian Prisoners in 90 Days
Key Takeaways
- Knesset approved death penalty for Palestinians convicted of terrorism; hangings to occur in 90 days.
- Rights groups and UN experts say the law would be discriminatory, likely affecting Palestinians most.
- Protests across the West Bank; UN experts condemned and called for repeal.
Knesset Approves Execution Law
The Knesset passed a law making the death penalty the default for Palestinians convicted of lethal terror attacks.
“On Monday, Israel passed a death penalty law allowing it to hang those convicted of “terror offences” within an accelerated 90-day period”
The vote was 62-48, with Netanyahu and two Arab members voting in favor.
Human Rights Watch said the law makes it clear it would primarily be applied to Palestinians.
Military jurisdiction applies exclusively to Palestinians while Israeli settlers are tried in civilian courts.
B'Tselem said military trials have a 96% conviction rate based largely on confessions extracted under duress.
International Condemnation
UN experts condemned the law as a discriminatory system that violates international human rights law.
The EU's authoritative legal opinion concluded that the law breaches Israel's obligations.
More than 30 international organizations issued a joint statement urging the EU to take urgent action.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said the law violates international humanitarian law.
The law institutionalizes arbitrary and discriminatory deprivation of life, the UN experts said.
Palestinian and Israeli Reactions
Hundreds of Palestinians protested across the occupied West Bank to denounce the law.
“Hundreds protest Israeli law allowing execution of Palestinian prisoners in West Bank Demonstrations staged across several cities to condemn Knesset-approved measure targeting Palestinian detainees RAMALLAH, Palestine / ISTANBUL Hundreds of Palestinians protested Tuesday across the occupied West Bank to denounce the passage of an Israeli law mandating the execution of Palestinian prisoners”
Former prisoners and families of detainees joined the protests.
Far-right Deputy Prime Minister Ben-Gvir celebrated the vote as historic.
The law comes less than a month after Israel dropped all charges against soldiers accused of mass raping Palestinian detainees.
Legal Challenges and Uncertain Future
Israeli legal experts expect the Supreme Court to strike down the law.
The law permits courts to issue death sentences without a request from prosecutors.
Meetings with lawyers would be limited to video communication.
The law bars appeals once a death sentence is issued.
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