Israel has passed a law introducing the death penalty for West Bank Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis. The legislation has been criticised by European countries, rights groups, and Palestinian authorities as discriminatory. Supporters say it strengthens security, while opponents warn it may increase tensions and undermine legal principles.
Israel has passed a new law introducing the death penalty as the default punishment for West Bank Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis, a move that has drawn criticism from several countries and international organisations.
The legislation states that executions will be carried out by hanging within 90 days of sentencing, unless a military court decides otherwise under special circumstances. The law applies specifically to individuals convicted of murder defined as an act of terrorism against Israeli citizens.
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The United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy issued a joint statement criticising the law, warning that it would “significantly expand the possibilities for imposing the death penalty.” The four nations described the measure as “de facto discriminatory” and said it risks undermining Israel’s commitment to democratic principles.
In their statement, the countries also said that the death penalty is “an inhumane and degrading form of punishment without any deterrent effect,” adding that opposition to such punishment is a shared fundamental value among them.
Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has been a leading supporter of the law. He had campaigned for stricter measures against Palestinians convicted of attacks on Israelis and publicly supported the introduction of capital punishment.
“We have made history,” Ben-Gvir said in a post on X following the passage of the law. “Any terrorist who goes out to kill should know – he will be sent to the gallows.” He also dismissed criticism from the European Union, stating that Israel would not yield to external pressure.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the legislation, saying it “constitutes a decision to carry out institutionalised extrajudicial killings according to racist standards.” The ministry also stated that Israel does not have sovereignty over Palestinian land and that its laws should not apply to Palestinians.
Critics of the law include Israeli and Palestinian groups, international human rights organisations, and the United Nations. Many have expressed concern that the death penalty could be applied mainly to Palestinians convicted of killing Jewish Israelis.
Under the law, military courts will handle cases involving West Bank Palestinians, who are not Israeli citizens. These courts can impose the death penalty as a standard sentence, although they are allowed to reduce it to life imprisonment in special cases.
In contrast, Israeli civilian courts, which try Israeli citizens including Palestinian citizens of Israel, may choose between life imprisonment and the death penalty in similar cases. Critics argue that this distinction creates unequal treatment under the law.
Amichai Cohen, a senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute’s Centre for Democratic Values and Institutions, said the law is discriminatory because, in practice, Jewish individuals would not be charged under it. He also raised concerns about the legal authority of Israel’s parliament to legislate for the West Bank, which is not considered sovereign Israeli territory under international law.
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has filed a petition with the country’s highest court to challenge the legislation. The organisation described the law as “discriminatory by design” and argued that it was enacted without proper legal authority over West Bank Palestinians.
Opponents of the bill have also described it as draconian and unlikely to deter attacks. They argue that harsher penalties may not reduce violence and could instead increase tensions in an already volatile region.
The law continues to generate debate both within Israel and internationally, with supporters arguing it strengthens security measures and critics warning of its legal and human rights implications.
