Israel’s parliament has enacted one of its most contentious legislations in recent history, approving a capital punishment law specifically targeting Palestinians convicted of terrorism-related killings. The Knesset passed the bill on Monday with a 62-48 majority vote, defying international pleas and warnings from European allies.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, the far-right architect of the legislation, celebrated the approval by serving alcohol to parliamentary members while wearing a distinctive golden noose-shaped pin symbolizing his campaign for executing Palestinian detainees. “This is a day of justice for the victims and a day of deterrence for our enemies,” Ben Gvir declared. “No more revolving door for terrorists, but a clear decision. Whoever chooses terrorism chooses death.”
The legislation establishes death penalty as the default sentence for Palestinians who “intentionally cause the death of another person with the intent to harm an Israeli citizen or resident, with the intent to end the existence of the State of Israel.” Critics immediately highlighted the law’s discriminatory nature, noting that Jewish offenders would at most receive prison sentences for similar crimes.
International condemnation has been swift and widespread. The foreign ministers of Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom had previously warned Israel that the bill could undermine its democratic principles. Several other nations including Ireland, the Netherlands, Egypt, Jordan, and Slovenia have criticized the capital punishment clause.
Human rights organizations and legal experts have raised alarm about Israel’s broad application of terrorism charges against Palestinians and reported increases in torture and deaths in custody since the Gaza conflict began. Leading Palestinian prisoners’ groups described the Knesset as a “terrorist institution and a body that legitimises genocide” in a joint statement.
Notably, the United States has refrained from criticizing the legislation, with a State Department spokesperson stating that Washington respects Israel’s “sovereign right to determine its own laws and penalties for individuals convicted of terrorism,” while expressing trust that such measures would include fair trial guarantees.
Israeli opposition parties and human rights groups including Adalah, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, HaMoked, and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel have condemned the law and announced plans to petition the High Court of Justice for its nullification.