Amnesty International has called on Israel to abandon legislation that seeks to expand the use of the death penalty, warning that the proposed measures would violate international law and further entrench Israel’s apartheid system against Palestinians.
Disproportionate Impact on Palestinians
In a statement released on Tuesday, the human rights organization said two bills currently under discussion in the Knesset would mark a major shift from Israel’s longstanding opposition to capital punishment. According to Amnesty, the proposals would disproportionately target Palestinians, effectively turning the death penalty into “another discriminatory tool in Israel’s system of apartheid.”
“Weaponising Punishment Against Palestinians”
“These amendments mean that the most extreme and irrevocable punishment is being reserved for, and weaponised against, Palestinians,” the group said. “If adopted, these bills would distance Israel from the vast majority of states that have rejected the death penalty in law or in practice, while further entrenching its cruel system of apartheid against all Palestinians whose rights Israel controls.”
Details of the Proposed Bills
The legislation, championed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, includes one bill that would amend Israeli Penal Law and Defence Regulations applied in the West Bank to allow executions. Another bill proposes the creation of a special military court to prosecute individuals accused of involvement in Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
Excluding Settlers, Targeting Palestinians
Amnesty noted that these proposed amendments would effectively apply only to Palestinians, as Israeli settlers in the West Bank would be explicitly excluded, despite their settlements being deemed illegal under international law. Additional provisions targeting those accused of intentionally causing the death of an Israeli citizen or resident would similarly impact Palestinians almost exclusively.
Israel’s History with the Death Penalty
Israel abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes, including murder, in 1954 and has not carried out an execution since 1962. While the country retains capital punishment for exceptional crimes such as genocide and treason, human rights experts warn that the new legislation would revive executions in Israel and the occupied territories while weakening safeguards against miscarriages of justice.
Government Defends the Bills Amid Criticism
Israeli authorities have defended the bills as necessary to deter deadly attacks. However, legal experts argue that their scope and application violate international legal norms and risk unfairly targeting Palestinians, particularly amid ongoing military operations in Gaza and escalating settler violence in the West Bank.
Amnesty Calls for Action
Amnesty International’s warning comes at a time of heightened tension, with rights groups highlighting the disproportionate impact of Israeli laws and policies on Palestinian communities, as Al Jazeera reports.
