Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor: The law to execute prisoners reveals a new level of continued destructive intent against the Palestinian people

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor stated that the Israeli Knesset’s initial approval of a death penalty bill targeting Palestinian detainees and prisoners represents a dangerous step towards entrenching Israel’s apartheid regime and reveals a new level of continued destructive intent against the Palestinian people, two years after the commission of the crime of genocide

In a press release issued Tuesday, the Euro-Mediterranean Monitor explained that the death penalty bill demonstrates the extent to which Israel is proceeding with the legalization of a discriminatory and extreme punishment imposed on Palestinians within a system that lacks guarantees of a fair trial for the population it occupies illegally, in violation of its obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

The Monitor added that it followed with strong disapproval the Knesset’s initial approval of the bill on Monday evening, November 10, by a majority of 39 out of 120 members, with 16 voting against it. This followed the National Security Committee’s approval on November 3 of the bill, which was submitted by the Otzma Yehudit party, headed by Itamar Ben-Gvir.

The Observatory noted that the passage of the law reflects a dangerous escalation in Israeli policy toward Palestinians, confirming the systematic nature of discrimination and violence against them. This culminated in the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip, which has persisted for over two years, and represents a continuation of a system of institutionalized persecution targeting Palestinians based on their national identity, ultimately aiming to eliminate their existence as a national group protected under international law.

The Observatory emphasized that imposing the death penalty on Palestinians constitutes a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and Israel’s obligations as an occupying power. Palestinians are protected persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention, which permits the death penalty only in the most limited circumstances, related to the most serious intentional crimes and under specific conditions.