Palestine Condemns Israeli Death Penalty Law for Prisoners as War Crime

T

he Palestinian Authority on Monday strongly condemned a new law passed by the Israeli Knesset mandating the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners, calling it a war crime and a grave violation of international law.

In an official statement, Palestinian officials said the legislation breaches the Fourth Geneva Convention, which guarantees protections for civilians under occupation and ensures fair trial standards. The Authority warned that the move represents a dangerous escalation in Israeli policies across the occupied Palestinian territories, including Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. It urged the international community to take immediate action to halt what it described as systematic violations and to hold Israel accountable.

‘Dangerous shift’ toward extrajudicial killings

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry described the law as a “dangerous shift toward legalizing genocide” and accused Israel of institutionalizing extrajudicial executions. It said the legislation places Israel in direct confrontation with international legal norms and called for sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and the activation of accountability mechanisms through bodies such as the International Criminal Court.

Palestinian factions echoed the condemnation. The Palestine Liberation Organization said the law effectively legalizes extrajudicial killings, while the Fatah movement described it as “legalizing policies of killing” already experienced by detainees in Israeli prisons, including allegations of medical neglect and abuse.

Calls for international action grow

The Hamas movement called the legislation part of an “escalating criminal campaign” against Palestinian prisoners and urged international human rights organizations to intervene urgently. Meanwhile, Palestinian political figures, including members of the Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee, warned that the law reflects what they described as a deepening system of discrimination and repression.

The Palestinian National Initiative also called for comprehensive sanctions and boycotts against Israel, arguing that the law marks a turning point toward entrenched “racist” legislation. Officials warned that failure to act would embolden further measures targeting Palestinians and undermine prospects for stability in the region.

The legislation passed its final readings in the Israeli parliament with the support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, drawing sharp reactions across Palestinian political and civil society groups, who say the measure poses an immediate threat to the lives of Palestinian prisoners.

(Source: Anadolu Agency)