Israel’s Parliament Approves Death Penalty for Palestinians, Amnesty International Warns of Legal Violations

Hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets across the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Tuesday in response to a new Israeli law mandating the death penalty by hanging for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis. The legislation, passed by Israel’s parliament late Monday, has sparked widespread fear and condemnation among Palestinian communities and human rights organizations.

The law orders West Bank military courts—which exclusively try Palestinians—to impose the death penalty as the default sentence for those convicted, except in limited circumstances. Demonstrators, including young and elderly Palestinians, held sit-ins and marches in cities such as Nablus, carrying signs that read “Time is running out and silence is deadly” and “Stop the law to execute prisoners, before it’s too late,” often depicting prisoners in Palestinian keffiyehs next to nooses.

The measure, championed by Israel’s minister of national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, was hailed by supporters as a long-overdue demonstration of strength and national pride. It is set to take effect in 30 days but could face delays due to pending proceedings at Israel’s highest tribunal. The law is not retroactive and will not apply to current prisoners, yet protesters voiced concern that it represents a severe escalation in the treatment of Palestinians in Israeli jails.

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Palestinian political and civil leaders denounced the legislation. The Fatah party announced a general strike in northern West Bank cities, while the Palestinian Foreign Ministry called for international intervention, including sanctions against Israel’s parliament. Officials described the law as institutionalizing extrajudicial killings under the guise of legal process and violating international human rights standards. Amnesty International also warned that applying the death penalty under the new measure could contravene the right to life and the prohibition of torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.

In Gaza, dozens gathered outside the Red Cross headquarters, with women in hijab holding framed photographs of prominent Palestinian prisoners, including Marwan Barghouti. Legal analysts noted that while the law technically allows Israeli courts to impose the death penalty on Israeli citizens for nationalist murders, its practical application is expected to target Palestinian citizens, effectively excluding Jewish Israelis from the law’s reach.

The legislation marks a significant shift in Israel’s penal policy and has intensified tensions in the West Bank, where Palestinians fear for the lives of those currently imprisoned. Observers warn that the law could exacerbate unrest in the region and further strain already fragile relations between Israeli authorities and Palestinian communities.

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