Israeli Knesset Passes Death Penalty Law Targeting Palestinian Prisoners

The Israeli Knesset passed a law making the death penalty the default punishment for Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis.

The law passed by a 62-48 vote with Prime Minister Netanyahu voting in favor.

Al Jazeera

It applies only to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank tried in military courts.

The death penalty would be applied within 90 days of final conviction.

Critics call the law discriminatory and warn it contravenes international law.

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel filed an urgent petition with the Supreme Court.

The law triggered mass protests across the occupied West Bank.

Fatah called a general strike that largely shut down Palestinian daily life.

Al Jazeera

Thousands marched in Ramallah chanting against Israeli policies.

More than 9,500 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons.

Palestinian factions condemned the law as a dangerous escalation.

The law drew condemnation from international human rights bodies and governments.

The OIC called the law illegal and urged Israel to repeal it.

Indonesia condemned the law and called for UN intervention.

The European Council described the law as a legal anachronism.

The law’s adoption coincided with intensifying US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

Israeli media described the law as a far-right populist tool.

Haaretz called it a Kahanist revolution.

Al-Jazeera Net

The law allows execution without unanimous judicial conviction.

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel filed a Supreme Court challenge.

Its passage marks a dramatic hardening of Israeli policy.