Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, on Monday approved a contentious law introducing the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis, a move that has drawn sharp condemnation from rights groups and the international community.
The legislation, passed by a 62–48 vote, marks the culmination of a years-long push by far-right lawmakers to toughen penalties for what they describe as “nationalistic” attacks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended the session in person to cast his vote but did not immediately speak following the outcome.
Under the new law, death by hanging becomes the default punishment for Palestinians in the West Bank convicted of such killings. While the legislation includes language allowing Israeli courts to impose the same penalty on Israeli citizens, legal experts argue that its structure effectively limits its application to Palestinians, including Palestinian citizens of Israel, while excluding Jewish citizens.
The law will not apply retroactively, meaning it excludes prisoners already in Israeli custody, including Hamas-led militants involved in the October 7, 2023 attacks that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.
Following the vote, lawmakers in support of the bill erupted in cheers, rising in celebration. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who spearheaded the legislation, celebrated openly, while far-right lawmaker Limor Son Har-Melech, a co-sponsor whose husband was killed in a Palestinian attack, appeared visibly emotional.
Before the vote, Ben-Gvir defended the measure as a long-overdue step. “From today, every terrorist will know, and the whole world will know, that whoever takes a life, the State of Israel will take their life,” he told lawmakers, wearing a small noose pin on his lapel.
The law, set to take effect in 30 days, is expected to face immediate legal hurdles. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel said it had already petitioned Israel’s highest court, describing the legislation as “discriminatory by design” and arguing that the Knesset lacks legal authority over Palestinians in the West Bank, who are not Israeli citizens.
Legal experts echoed those concerns. Amichai Cohen of the Israel Democracy Institute said international law does not permit Israel’s parliament to legislate in the West Bank, which is not recognized as sovereign Israeli territory. He added that the law’s definition of offenses — killings intended to reject Israel’s existence — effectively excludes Jewish perpetrators.
“It will apply in Israeli courts, but only to terrorist activities that are motivated by the wish to undermine the existence of Israel,” Cohen said. “That means Jews will not be indicted under this law.”
The vote followed a daylong and often tense debate. Opposition lawmakers warned that the bill contradicts international legal standards, particularly because it allows death sentences without requiring a unanimous verdict and provides no avenue for clemency.
Gilad Kariv criticized the measure on the floor of parliament, asking: “A law in which a person can be sentenced to death without a unanimous conviction — is this justice in your eyes? Is this the sanctity of life that Israeli tradition has taught us?”
Kariv further warned that the legislation could expose Israeli soldiers and prison officials to international prosecution, saying it risks turning them into “war criminals against their will.”
Some lawmakers, including Aida Touma-Sliman, left the chamber before voting concluded in protest.
The foreign ministers of Australia, Britain, France, Germany, and Italy had urged Israel to abandon the legislation ahead of the vote, calling it “de facto discriminatory” and arguing that capital punishment is unethical and ineffective as a deterrent.
Although Israeli law technically allows the death penalty for crimes such as genocide and wartime espionage, it has been used only once — in the 1962 execution of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann.
Human rights groups note that Israel has historically supported global efforts to abolish capital punishment. Security officials, including those from the Shin Bet agency, have also previously opposed its use, warning it could incite retaliatory attacks.
Opposition figures have additionally raised concerns that the law could complicate future hostage negotiations. Israel previously exchanged around 250 hostages taken during the October 2023 attacks for thousands of Palestinian prisoners.
A separate bill addressing the punishment of those attackers remains under consideration.
Boluwatife Enome
