Knesset passes death penalty law for Palestinians convicted of deadly acts of terror

Key Points:

• The Knesset passed a law mandating the death penalty by hanging for West Bank Palestinians convicted of deadly terror attacks, with a 62-47 vote, making it the default punishment unless judges cite “special circumstances” to impose life imprisonment.
• The legislation, championed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and his Otzma Yehudit party, applies exclusively to Palestinians tried in military courts and excludes Israeli citizens, who are tried in civilian courts.
• Opposition parties, human rights organizations, and the Palestinian Authority condemned the law as immoral, discriminatory, and a violation of international law; several groups announced plans to petition Israel’s High Court of Justice to nullify it.
• The law has drawn international criticism from European foreign ministers for its discriminatory nature, while the US expressed respect for Israel’s sovereignty but emphasized the need for fair trials and legal protections.
• Despite revisions to address legal and diplomatic concerns, Israeli legal advisers warned the law could be unconstitutional, violate international agreements, and complicate future hostage negotiations, with Amnesty International noting the global trend toward abolition of the death penalty.