Human rights and humanitarian organizations have strongly condemned a new law approved by the Knesset, warning that it expands the use of the death penalty in a way that could disproportionately affect Palestinians and undermine fundamental legal safeguards.
The legislation, passed on 30 March, broadens the application of capital punishment in both military and civilian courts in Israel and the West Bank. Introduced by a party led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, the bill marks a significant shift in Israeli policy, as the country has not carried out executions or imposed death sentences since 1962, despite existing legal provisions for extreme cases such as genocide and wartime espionage.
According to the joint statement, the law makes the death penalty the default punishment for certain offenses classified as terrorism in the West Bank, allowing life imprisonment only under unspecified “special circumstances.” It also enables military courts to impose death sentences by a simple majority, even without a request from prosecutors, with executions required to be carried out within 90 days and without the possibility of commutation or pardon. Notably, Israeli settlers in the West Bank are excluded from the scope of the provision.
Within Israel, civilian courts are also granted broader authority to impose the death penalty or life imprisonment for acts deemed to threaten the existence of the state. Critics argue that while the law does not explicitly reference ethnicity, its application is likely to disproportionately target Palestinians and raises concerns about discrimination and due process.
The statement emphasizes that the European Union has long opposed capital punishment, considering it incompatible with human dignity. It further argues that the law may violate key international legal frameworks, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Convention Against Torture.
The development comes amid broader tensions and ongoing humanitarian concerns in the region, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank. The statement links the legislation to wider patterns of policies affecting Palestinians, including settlement expansion, displacement, and restrictions on humanitarian operations.
Previous diplomatic efforts by the EU and its Member States to address these concerns have reportedly not led to policy changes. The statement notes that under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, respect for democratic principles and human rights is a fundamental condition of cooperation.
In light of the new law, the organizations are calling on the European Union to take stronger measures, including reviewing and potentially suspending aspects of its trade relationship with Israel, to ensure alignment with its stated human rights commitments.
