Israel Passes Controversial Death Penalty Law for Convicted Palestinians

Tue Mar 31 2026 00:20:37 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Israeli parliament has enacted a law mandating the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of deadly terror attacks, drawing critical reactions from international communities and human rights organizations.

On March 30, Israel's Knesset approved a law enabling the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of fatal terror acts, raising concerns over its discriminatory nature and potential infringement on democratic values. The legislation mandates execution by hanging within 90 days, reinforcing a contentious debate on justice and security within Israel and its global relations.

Israel's parliament has approved a law that would make the death penalty the default sentence for Palestinians convicted of deadly terror attacks.

Critics have described the new law as discriminatory, and several European nations have warned it risks undermining democratic principles.

The law passed its final reading in the Knesset with a narrow majority of 62 votes to 48. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voted in favor of the bill, which mandates that Palestinians convicted in Israeli military courts of carrying out deadly attacks deemed to be acts of terrorism would be executed by hanging within 90 days, with a potential extension of up to 180 days.

Although theoretically applicable to Jewish Israelis, in practice it is unlikely to be enforced against them, as the law specifies that execution would occur only in circumstances where the perpetrator aimed to negate the existence of the state of Israel.

The far right, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, has been a strong proponent of this legislation. Following the vote, Ben-Gvir declared on X: We made history!!! We promised. We delivered.
A fellow party member, Limor Son-Har-Melech, related the necessity of this law to personal experiences, citing the release of attackers who later returned to carry out further violence.

However, opposition lawmakers criticized the legislation for lacking value in enhancing security and warned of prospective international backlash.

Citing the need for upholding democratic standards, countries such as the UK, France, Germany, and Italy expressed severe reservations regarding the bill, arguing that it contradicts Israel's commitments to democratic principles.

The Palestinian Authority condemned the legislation, arguing it seeks to legitimize extrajudicial killings, while Hamas has warned that it endangers Palestinian lives in Israeli custody.

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has already initiated proceedings at the Supreme Court against the law, labeling it unconstitutional.

This law marks a significant shift in Israel's legal landscape regarding capital punishment, a measure historically used only twice in the country's past.