The United Nations human rights chief has issued a strong rebuke of Israel’s parliament following its approval of a controversial bill that would make the death penalty the default punishment for Palestinians convicted of carrying out lethal attacks in military courts.
Volker Türk said the legislation passed by the Knesset is “deeply discriminatory” and incompatible with international legal standards. He urged Israeli authorities to immediately repeal the measure, warning that it undermines fundamental human rights protections.
The bill, backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his right-wing coalition, mandates hanging as the standard sentence for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank who are convicted of attacks resulting in death. Under the proposed framework, executions could be carried out within 90 days of sentencing, significantly accelerating the timeline compared to previous legal procedures.
Critics, including Israeli and international human rights organizations, argue that the law is designed to apply almost exclusively to Palestinians and does not impose the same punishment on Jewish Israeli citizens convicted of similar offenses. Legal experts have also raised concerns about the use of military courts, which primarily try Palestinians and have long been criticized for lacking due process guarantees.
Türk warned that enforcing the death penalty in occupied territory could amount to a war crime under international law. He emphasized that such measures may violate the right to life and fair trial protections enshrined in international human rights law.
Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, defended the measure, calling it a necessary deterrent against terrorism.
The legislation has drawn condemnation from human rights groups and several European governments, who warn it risks undermining democratic norms and escalating tensions in the occupied Palestinian territories.
