Palestine Condemns Israel's Death Penalty Law Targeting Palestinians
West Bank (ANTARA) - Palestine has condemned the death penalty law enacted by the Israeli government targeting Palestinians in the West Bank. Describing the move as a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, the Palestinian presidency stated that the law constitutes a clear breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention, particularly the protections it guarantees for individuals and fair trials, according to the official Palestinian news agency, WAFA.
“The law is a war crime against the Palestinian people and fits into the broader context of escalating Israeli policies and actions across all occupied Palestinian territories, including the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem,” the news agency elaborated.
On the same day, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the approval of the law signals a dangerous shift towards genocidal legislation.
The ministry emphasised that Israel has no sovereignty over Palestinian land and that Israeli law cannot be applied to the Palestinian people.
Meanwhile, Hamas described the step as reflective of the occupier’s cruel nature and its approach based on murder and terrorism, exposing the falsehood of its repeated claims regarding civilisation and commitment to humanitarian values.
“This decision reaffirms the occupier’s and its leaders’ disregard for international law, and their actions that trample on all humanitarian norms and conventions,” Hamas added.
Israel’s parliament on Monday approved a draft bill establishing the death penalty as the standard sanction for Palestinians in the West Bank convicted of “terrorism” cases, a move that has drawn international criticism.
Proposed by Israel’s far-right government coalition, the new law mandates the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis with intent to harm the state. The law does not apply to Israelis who kill Palestinians.
Under the law, courts may impose the death penalty even if prosecutors do not request it, and a unanimous decision by judges is not required.