The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, has approved a law making the death penalty the default sentence for Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks in military courts. The legislation passed Monday with a 62-48 vote after a heated debate and is seen as fulfilling a key pledge by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition allies.
The law specifically applies to Palestinians tried in military courts in the occupied West Bank for “nationalistic” killings. Under the new rules, executions by hanging will become standard, ending a decades-long de facto moratorium on capital punishment in Israel. Previously, the only execution carried out in Israel was that of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in 1962.
Key changes include allowing a simple majority of a three-judge military panel to impose the death sentence, with executions mandated within 90 days of sentencing. Legal consultations for death row inmates will be limited to video calls, with in-person visits prohibited.
Human rights organizations and Palestinian leaders have condemned the law as “institutionalized discrimination,” noting that Israeli citizens convicted of similar murders are tried in civilian courts, where life imprisonment is the maximum sentence. Critics say the legislation creates a dual legal system that disproportionately targets Palestinians.
The law has also drawn international criticism, with governments including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy describing it as “inhumane and degrading” and warning it may not serve as a deterrent.
Some Israeli security officials have expressed concern that the law could endanger Israeli soldiers or citizens held by militant groups, who may face retaliatory actions. Legal challenges are expected in Israel’s Supreme Court, with opponents arguing the legislation violates human rights and international law.
