Israel’s parliament has approved a new law establishing death by hanging as the standard punishment for Palestinians found guilty in military courts of lethal attacks. The move, championed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right supporters, has sparked criticism for its perceived bias in sentencing.
Critics argue that the law would exclusively target Palestinians convicted of murder with the intent to “eliminate Israel,” while sparing Jewish Israelis who commit similar offenses. The United States has acknowledged Israel’s authority to set its own legal standards on terrorism-related cases.
However, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has condemned the legislation, labeling it a violation of international law and an attempt to intimidate Palestinians. His office asserted that such measures would not weaken the resolve of the Palestinian people.
Following the law’s passing, Palestinian factions Hamas and Islamic Jihad have called for retaliatory attacks. The international community has rebuked Israel for this statute, particularly amidst ongoing tensions between Jewish settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank and the conflict in Gaza.
The law mandates that executions by hanging must occur within 90 days of sentencing, with limited grounds for postponement and no provision for clemency. While life imprisonment can be imposed in certain “special circumstances,” the law has faced criticism for its lack of clarity on this exception.
Notably, military courts in the West Bank have the authority to sentence Palestinian offenders to death, although this penalty has not been applied thus far. The legislation was spearheaded by Itamar Ben-Gvir, the national security minister from the far-right, who prominently displayed noose-shaped lapel pins leading up to the vote.
Despite proponents framing the law as a means of delivering justice and deterring enemies, Israeli human rights organizations have strongly condemned it as a form of systematic discrimination and violence against Palestinians. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has challenged the law in the country’s Supreme Court.
This development adds to the growing unease among Israel’s Western allies over the policies of Netanyahu’s nationalist-religious coalition, particularly concerning settler violence in the West Bank.