The Israeli Knesset’s passage on Monday evening of the “Death Penalty for Palestinian Prisoners” law in its second and third readings sparked widespread Palestinian and factional outrage, amid warnings of serious repercussions on the ground and humanitarian situation, given the continued disregard for international laws and conventions.
The Knesset had given final approval to the law, following prior approval by the National Security Committee, paving the way for its presentation to the full Knesset. This move was described as a dangerous shift in the approach to the issue of prisoners in Israeli jails.
The law stipulates the mandatory imposition of the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners, with the sentence to be carried out within 90 days, without the possibility of pardon or commutation, according to specific procedures.
The Palestinian Presidency announced its categorical rejection of the law, emphasizing that it constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, in addition to contravening the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The Presidency considered the law a new war crime against the Palestinian people, coming within an escalating context encompassing all Palestinian territories, and warned of its serious repercussions on the prospects for stability and security in the region. She stressed that these policies will not succeed in breaking the will of the Palestinian people or deterring them from continuing their legitimate struggle for freedom and independence.
