Jerusalem: The Israeli parliament has passed a law allowing the execution of Palestinians convicted of terrorism. The law, approved by a vote of 62 to 48, establishes hanging as the basic punishment for Palestinians convicted of terrorism resulting in deaths. This legislative move marks a significant change to Israel's legal system, which has seen virtually no use of the death penalty since the execution of Nazi German Adolf Eichmann in 1962. According to Thai News Agency, the new law specifically targets Palestinians in the West Bank prosecuted in military courts for intentional homicide in acts classified as terrorism. The death penalty is now stipulated as the sole punishment unless exceptional circumstances allow for a commutation to life imprisonment, though the term is not clearly defined. The law abolishes the previous need for unanimous consent from a panel of judges, now requiring only a simple majority of three judges to order an execution. It mandates that executions must occur within 90 days of t he final verdict, and it severely restricts the right to appeal or seek clemency. While civilian court law permits the death penalty for those undermining the existence of the State of Israel, experts claim that the definition is practically exclusive to Palestinians and nearly impossible to apply to Jewish citizens committing similar offenses. This has sparked criticism, with detractors arguing that it deliberately excludes Israeli extremists. The law is not retroactive, excluding those accused in the October 7, 2023, attacks. A separate bill has been proposed to establish a special military tribunal for those cases. Although the law is technically in effect, enforcement may be delayed pending review by the Israeli Supreme Court, known for its rigorous human rights scrutiny. Support for the bill is strong within the Israeli government. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir hailed the law as a day of justice and a deterrent to enemies. In contrast, opposition leader Ya'een Lapid is preparing a Supreme Court petition to declare the law unconstitutional and discriminatory. Human rights organizations, including the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), have already filed a petition with the Supreme Court, arguing against the law's constitutionality and fairness. The Palestinian government has condemned the new law, asserting that Israel lacks sovereignty over Palestinian territories and criticizing the law as an attempt to legitimize extrajudicial killings. Similarly, Hamas in the Gaza Strip contends that the law endangers Palestinian prisoners and constitutes a human rights violation. The European Union, along with the foreign ministers of the UK, France, Germany, and Italy, issued a joint statement expressing grave concern, stating that the law violates democratic principles and universal human rights.
