Amnesty International has strongly condemned the recent first reading of a proposed amendment to the Israeli Penal Law, which would make the death penalty mandatory for individuals convicted of killing an Israeli with racist or nationalistic motives. Erika Guevara Rosas, Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns at Amnesty International, highlighted that although the bill does not explicitly mention Palestinians, its language effectively targets them and could apply retroactively to past actions. She emphasized that the death penalty is a cruel, inhuman, and irreversible punishment that violates the right to life.
Rosas criticized the legislation as a dramatic regression in human rights, noting that it comes amid a backdrop of extrajudicial killings, deaths in custody, and widespread impunity for violence against Palestinians. She warned that the bill would institutionalize discrimination and could be used as a tool of oppression, further entrenching Israel’s system of apartheid. The bill also permits military courts to impose death sentences on civilians, despite the extremely high conviction rates in such courts and the unfairness of these trials.
Historically, Israel has restricted the use of the death penalty to exceptional crimes, such as genocide and crimes against humanity, with the last execution carried out in 1962. If enacted, the new law would conflict with global trends toward abolition and violate Israel’s international commitments, including treaties ratified in 1991. The legislation underscores ongoing systemic discrimination, targeting Palestinians under the guise of national security and reinforcing apartheid policies.
Amnesty International called on the international community to pressure Israel to scrap the bill, dismantle laws contributing to apartheid, and ensure fair treatment for Palestinian detainees, including protection from torture and guaranteed fair trials. The organization reaffirmed its unconditional opposition to the death penalty, noting that 113 countries worldwide have abolished it for all crimes. The first reading of the bill passed by 39 votes to 16.
