The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, has approved a law allowing the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks against Israelis in the West Bank. The new measure, passed on 30 March 2026, makes execution by hanging mandatory for those found guilty and largely removes the right to appeal.
Supporters, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir, say the law is a strong step to protect Israelis and deliver justice for victims of terrorism. They hope it will act as a deterrent against future attacks.
But critics see the law very differently. While it does not explicitly mention Palestinians, in practice, only Palestinians are affected, since they are tried in military courts. Jewish Israelis, even if convicted of similar crimes, face civilian courts, meaning the law applies almost exclusively to one group.
The Palestinian Authority called it a “war crime” and warned it could escalate violence in an already tense region. Observers also note that Israel has not carried out executions since 1962, making this law a major change in policy and raising fears about fairness and human rights.
The law has also drawn sharp international criticism. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, described it as “deeply discriminatory” and warned it could breach international legal standards. European governments, including Germany, France, Italy, and the UK, condemned the law as inhumane and incompatible with global norms against capital punishment.
Human rights organizations, opposition politicians, and legal experts have quickly challenged the legislation in Israel’s Supreme Court. Groups like Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel call it unconstitutional and discriminatory, arguing it violates both Israeli democratic values and international law.
