The United Nations has strongly condemned a new death penalty bill approved by the Israeli parliament, describing it as discriminatory and a violation of international law.
The law targets Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, allowing military courts to impose the death penalty as a default sentence for certain attacks classified as terrorism.
A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticised the measure, stating the global body opposes capital punishment in all forms.
“The discriminatory nature of this particular law makes it particularly cruel and discriminatory, and we ask that the Israeli government rescind it and not implement it,” said Stephane Dujarric.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk also called for the bill to be withdrawn, warning it conflicts with international legal obligations.
“the death penalty is profoundly difficult to reconcile with human dignity”, he said, adding that “its application in a discriminatory manner would constitute an additional, particularly egregious violation of international law”.
“Its application to residents of the occupied Palestinian territory would constitute a war crime.”
Turk further raised concerns about another proposed law that would establish a special military court focused only on crimes committed by Palestinians.
“I urge the Knesset to reject this bill,” he said, warning that “by focusing exclusively on crimes committed by Palestinians, it would institutionalise discriminatory and one-sided justice”.
