Hundreds of Palestinians rally across the West Bank to protest Israel's new law allowing the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks.
The protests, which took place in several cities including Ramallah, Tubas, Nablus, Jenin, and Hebron, drew a broad crowd of families of prisoners, senior members of the Fatah party, civil society organisations, trade unions, and women's groups. The demonstrations were staged after calls by prisoner advocacy groups and national factions, who also held a sit-in at the International Committee of the Red Cross headquarters in el-Bireh. The protest displayed photographs of dozens of prisoners who have died in custody over the decades, highlighting the dire conditions faced by Palestinian detainees.
More than 9,500 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons, including 350 children and 73 women. Human rights organisations and Palestinian officials have denounced Israel's approval of the legislation, arguing that it breaches international law and is fundamentally discriminatory because it does not apply equally to Israeli convicts.
European countries have also condemned the law, with the European Union calling it "very concerning" and Germany stating that it "could not endorse" the new law. Amnesty International has called on Israeli authorities to repeal the law, describing it as "a public display of cruelty, discrimination, and utter contempt for human rights".
The Israeli law mandates the use of the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks, with executions to be carried out by hanging by prison guards appointed by the Israeli Prison Service. Those involved would have anonymity and legal immunity, and meetings with lawyers would be limited to video communications.
The protests and international condemnation come as Israel has intensified measures against Palestinian prisoners since the beginning of its conflict in Gaza in October 2023, which has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians and wounded 172,000.
When Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty's senior director, says that Israel's new law is "a culmination of policies that have seen apparent extrajudicial executions and other unlawful killings of Palestinians," that means the international community is finally acknowledging the systemic nature of Israel's human rights abuses. The fact that European countries are speaking out against this law suggests that there is a growing recognition of the need for accountability and an end to Israel's impunity. The implications of this are far-reaching, as it could lead to increased pressure on Israel to reform its policies and respect the human rights of Palestinians.
