Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, on Monday, passed a controversial new law that says that the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, if found guilty in military courts of carrying out deadly attacks against Israelis, could be punished by hanging to death. The law was supported by 62 members, and 48 voted against it.
The law was strongly supported by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Meanwhile, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israeli politicians and lawmakers, and the ministry of national security celebrated the win in parliament and wrote on social media, “We made history,” and “We are not afraid; we will not submit.”
What does the law change?
The law significantly changes how military courts work in the West Bank and applies to Palestinians and other non-Israeli residents who are tried under military law. The law has been criticized on the grounds that it creates two different legal systems, one for Israelis and another for Palestinians. Many of them called it discriminatory and against international legal norms.
The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs labelled it as a “dangerous escalation” and even described it as a “war crime.” It added that Israel has no legal authority over Palestinians’ land and said that the law is aimed to justify killing by concealing them under legal covers. Meanwhile, Hamas called the law a “dangerous precedent” that could put Palestinian prisoners at risk.
Mustafa Barghouti, secretary general, Palestinian National Initiative, said that the law could be weaponized against political prisoners and activists. He termed it as “unjust and inhuman” and said it is a “fascist shift” in the Israeli system.
Helen McEntee, Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Minister, also raised concerns. She said the law appears discriminatory toward Palestinians. Ireland, which opposes the death penalty in all cases, urged Israel not to implement the law and stressed the importance of protecting basic human rights.
The Gaza-based Palestinian Center said the law continues a long pattern of what it called unlawful killing and goes against the international human rights and humanitarian laws.
The United Nations Human Rights Office in Palestine strongly asked the law to be cancelled immediately and said that the law goes against Israel’s duties under international law.
Alain Berset, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, called the law a “serious step backward.” He highlighted that Israel takes part in Council of Europe agreements and said the organization will closely scrutinize how this law develops.
Meantime, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel has also challenged the law in court. It has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court of Israel, arguing that the law is legally flawed.
