Israel's parliament, the Knesset, passed a law on Monday making the death penalty by hanging the default punishment for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank convicted of killing Israelis. The legislation was championed by far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who was seen celebrating with champagne in the parliamentary chamber after it was approved with 62 votes to 48.

Palestinian leaders and human rights groups have condemned the law as a violation of international law and inherently discriminatory. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs labeled it a "dangerous escalation," stressing that "Israel has no sovereignty over Palestinian land" in the occupied territory. Hamas reportedly stated that the law shows "the occupation and its leaders' contempt for international law."

The law comes amid a surge in Israeli military and settler attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank, along with thousands of arrests, in the shadow of Israel's ongoing war in Gaza. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has filed an appeal against the law with Israel's Supreme Court. The UN Human Rights Office in Palestine called on Israel to "immediately repeal the discriminatory death penalty law," noting it violates the country's international obligations.

Global human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, described the law as "a public display of cruelty, discrimination and utter contempt for human rights." Council of Europe Secretary-General Alain Berset denounced its passage as a "serious regression." EU regimes, including Italy, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, allegedly requested the Israeli government withdraw the bill, but Ben-Gvir purportedly responded, "We are not afraid, we will not submit."

This law entrenches Israel's long-standing policies toward Palestinians and could exacerbate regional tensions by targeting Palestinian political prisoners and activists. The international community faces challenges in upholding human rights standards as Israeli authorities seemingly disregard calls to revoke the discriminatory measure, potentially deepening impunity in the conflict.

Source: www.aljazeera.com