By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

Palestinian groups, rights organizations, and governments condemn Israel’s execution law as racist, illegal, and a dangerous escalation.

Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, approved on March 31 a sweeping new law mandating the death penalty for Palestinians accused of carrying out resistance operations.

Passed with the backing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the legislation introduces what critics describe as an openly discriminatory legal regime, codifying execution as a default punishment for Palestinians under military rule.

The law allows death sentences to be issued without unanimity and implemented within a short timeframe, potentially within 90 days.

Executions are to be carried out by prison authorities, whose identities are shielded and protected under the law.

Legal experts and rights groups warn that the measure effectively formalizes a two-tier system of justice—one for Israelis and another for Palestinians—at a time when thousands of Palestinians remain imprisoned under conditions widely documented as abusive.

The law emerges amid Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and escalating repression across the occupied territories, raising fears of a broader policy shift toward institutionalized execution.

Palestinian Resistance: “Dignity Will Not Be Hanged”

Palestinian resistance factions responded with fierce condemnation, framing the law as part of a wider system of oppression rooted in “genocide and ethnic cleansing.”

In a joint statement, the factions said the legislation seeks to “legitimize killing inside prisons,” exposing what they described as “fear and helplessness” within Israel rather than strength.

They rejected any attempt to criminalize Palestinian prisoners, insisting they remain “a symbol of dignity and steadfastness” in the face of occupation.

The statement called for mass mobilization, urging Palestinians across all occupied territories to confront what it described as escalating crimes.

“Let our slogan be that the right is not executed, dignity is not hanged, and what prisons failed to achieve will not be achieved by gallows,” the factions declared.

They also called on international institutions to act, warning that silence would enable further escalation against Palestinian detainees.

Amnesty: “Contempt for Human Rights”

Amnesty International issued a scathing response, demanding the immediate repeal of the law.

Erika Guevara-Rosas described the legislation as evidence of “cruelty, discrimination and contempt for human rights,” warning that it could transform Israel’s already heavily criticized military court system into a mechanism for rapid executions.

With conviction rates exceeding 99% for Palestinians, she warned that the law enables “almost mandatory death sentences within 90 days,” effectively stripping defendants of meaningful legal protections.

Amnesty also pointed to a broader pattern of impunity, noting that the law was adopted as Israeli soldiers accused of serious abuses against Palestinian detainees faced no accountability.

Adalah: “A Law Built on Ethnicity”

The Palestinian-Israeli legal center Adalah moved immediately to challenge the law, filing a petition before Israel’s Supreme Court within minutes of its passage.

Director Hassan Jabareen described the legislation as “racist,” stressing that it targets Palestinians exclusively.

“This statute is the only law in the world that discriminates between defendants based on ethnicity,” he said.

He warned that the law dismantles basic legal safeguards, allowing death sentences to be issued by a simple majority and without prosecutorial request.

Although the law’s implementation is temporarily halted pending judicial review, Jabareen emphasized its structural danger, noting that even internal Israeli opposition has focused on its effectiveness rather than its legality or morality.

Spain: “Another Step Toward Apartheid”

Spain delivered one of the strongest state-level condemnations.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described the law as “another step towards apartheid,” pointing directly to its discriminatory nature.

He underscored the unequal application of justice, stating: “Same crime, different punishment. That is not justice.”

Sanchez warned that silence in the face of such measures is not an option, declaring: “The world cannot remain silent.”

His remarks reflect growing unease within Europe over Israel’s accelerating legal and military policies against Palestinians.

France: “Racist Death Penalty”

In France, opposition leaders called for concrete action rather than statements.

Mathilde Panot of France Unbowed described the legislation as establishing “a racist death penalty against Palestinians.”

She warned that the law could result in “immediate hanging for at least 300 Palestinian prisoners,” while emphasizing that Israeli citizens remain exempt from such punishment.

Panot called for sanctions against Netanyahu and urged the European Union to suspend its association agreement with Israel, framing the law as a grave violation of international law.

Türkiye: “A System of Persecution”

Türkiye’s Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus condemned the law as part of a broader system of institutional discrimination.

“A discriminatory penal regime based on ethnic identity is being reinforced,” he said.

He added that applying different punishments based on identity is “not lawful; it is a clear persecution,” accusing Israel of weaponizing the legal system to entrench occupation.

Kurtulmus warned that failure to respond decisively would embolden further abuses, cautioning against what he described as the normalization of such policies.

Switzerland: “Deep Concern” Over Law

Switzerland expressed “deep” concern and called for the law’s repeal.

The Swiss Foreign Ministry urged Israel to “reinstate the long-standing moratorium” on executions and comply with international human rights obligations.

While more restrained in tone, the statement reflects growing European alarm over the reintroduction of capital punishment within a discriminatory legal framework.

Pakistan: “Illegal, Inhumane, Dangerous”

Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission condemned the law as “illegal” and “inhumane,” warning of far-reaching consequences.

Chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt said the legislation could “set a dangerous precedent,” potentially encouraging other states to adopt similar practices.

He warned that executing prisoners under occupation could trigger “a serious diplomatic mess” and even “new wars,” underscoring the broader destabilizing potential of the measure.

Egypt: “Blatant Violation of International Law”

Egypt issued a forceful condemnation, describing the law as “a dangerous and unprecedented escalation.”

Cairo stated that it constitutes “a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions,” and undermines the foundations of fair trial guarantees.

It warned that the measure entrenches “a systematic discriminatory approach” and reinforces an apartheid-like system through unequal legal application.

Egypt called on the international community to take “firm and immediate positions” to halt the law and ensure protection for the Palestinian people.

‘Inhumane and Degrading’: Israel Passes Law to Execute Palestinian Prisoners

(Al Mayadeen, Anadolu, Amnesty, Adalah, Spain Gov, Swiss MFA, HRCP, LFI, Turkish Parliament, Egypt MFA, PC)