ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and seven other countries on Thursday condemned a new Israeli law allowing the death penalty in cases involving Palestinians, warning it could escalate tensions and undermine regional stability.
The joint statement by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates comes days after Israel’s parliament approved a bill that would allow the execution of Palestinians convicted on terror charges for deadly attacks, a move that has been criticized as discriminatory and immediately drew a court challenge.
“The Ministers underscored that this legislation constitutes a dangerous escalation, particularly given its discriminatory application against Palestinian prisoners,” a joint statement said, warning it could risk “further exacerbating tensions and undermining regional stability.”
The foreign ministers also condemned what they described as broader Israeli policies, warning of “increasingly discriminatory, escalating Israeli practices that entrench a system of apartheid.”
They expressed concern over the treatment of Palestinian detainees, citing “credible reports of ongoing abuses, including torture, inhumane and degrading treatment, starvation, and the denial of basic rights.”
“The Ministers reaffirmed their opposition to Israel’s racially discriminatory, oppressive, and aggressive policies targeting Palestinians,” the statement said.
The ministers urged the international community to ensure accountability and prevent further deterioration, calling for restraint from actions that could inflame tensions.
On Monday, 62 lawmakers, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, voted in favor and 48 against the bill, championed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
The bill would make the death penalty the default punishment for Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank found guilty of carrying out deadly attacks deemed “acts of terrorism” by an Israeli military court.
The bill says that the sentence may be reduced to life imprisonment under “special circumstances.”
Palestinians in the West Bank are automatically tried in Israeli military courts.
Meanwhile, under the bill, in Israeli criminal courts anyone “who intentionally causes the death of a person with the aim of harming an Israeli citizen or resident out of an intention to put an end to the existence of the State of Israel shall be sentenced to death or life imprisonment.”
Criminal courts try Israeli nationals, including Palestinian citizens and residents of east Jerusalem.
The bill sets the execution method as hanging, adding that it should be carried out within 90 days of the sentencing, with a possible postponement of up to 180 days.
With additional inputs from AFP
