UN Rights Chief Condemns New Israeli Law Authorizing Executions

The Knesset’s legislation mandates that Palestinians convicted in military courts face the death penalty within 90 days. While proponents, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, claim the law serves as a deterrent, the UN warns it is inconsistent with the right to life and lacks basic due process protections. Because the law grants judges discretionary power for Israeli citizens, observers suggest it will effectively target only Palestinians.

“The application of this penalty in a discriminatory manner would constitute an additional, particularly egregious violation of international law,” Türk stated. “Its application to residents of the occupied Palestinian territory would constitute a war crime.”

Human rights groups have intensified their criticism, linking the measure to broader allegations of apartheid. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned the move as unprecedented, noting that even the South African apartheid government did not enact such explicitly racialized capital punishment. Advocacy organizations report that over 9,500 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, where detainees face allegations of widespread torture, medical neglect, and starvation—most notably at the Sde Teiman facility. These developments coincide with ongoing International Court of Justice proceedings regarding Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories.