Palestinian ministry condemns Israel’s death penalty bill

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has denounced Israel’s proposed death penalty law for those accused of “terrorism”, describing it as “a decision for extrajudicial field executions and intentions to commit a crime”.

The ministry urged the international community to intervene and hold Israeli officials behind the bill accountable, warning it would legitimise state murder of Palestinians under the guise of law.

The legislation, championed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, was pushed through the Knesset’s National Security Committee on Monday, drawing widespread condemnation from human rights groups.

It will go before parliament for its first reading on Wednesday, a move critics say exposes Israel’s deepening slide into authoritarianism and open embrace of racist, retributive violence against Palestinians.