Abdel Ra'ouf D. A. R. Arnaout
31 March 2026•Update: 31 March 2026
Israel’s Knesset approved a controversial law Monday imposing the death penalty exclusively on Palestinian prisoners, in a move that has triggered sharp criticism from Palestinian, Israeli and international rights groups.
The legislation passed by 62 votes to 48 with one abstention after its second and third readings.
Introduced by the far-right Jewish Power party led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Likud lawmaker Nissim Vaturi, the law immediately entered into force.
Below is what the law includes:
Applies only to Palestinians
The law applies exclusively to Palestinian residents living in areas under Israeli control.
It specifically targets non-Israeli Palestinians from the occupied West Bank accused of carrying out what Israel defines as “terrorist acts.”
Death penalty becomes default punishment
Under the new legislation, Palestinians convicted of premeditated murder in such cases would face the death penalty.
Life imprisonment would remain possible only in what the law describes as highly exceptional circumstances.
No unanimous court decision required
The law gives military courts broad powers to issue death sentences.
Unlike previous procedures, a death sentence would no longer require a request from prosecutors or a unanimous decision by a panel of judges.
The judges would also not be required to hold a rank lower than lieutenant colonel.
No power to cancel or reduce sentence
Israeli military commanders would not be allowed to pardon, reduce or overturn death sentences issued under the law.
The legislation also bars the Israeli government from releasing anyone convicted, suspected or accused of an offense punishable by death.
The law stipulates that executions would be carried out by hanging within 90 days of a final ruling.
The Israeli prime minister would be able to request a delay for special reasons, but only for a maximum period of 180 days.
New prison rules for those sentenced to death
The law amends prison regulations to define solitary confinement arrangements for prisoners sentenced to death.
It also restricts access to them and keeps the execution process confidential.
Families of victims to be notified
Amendments to victims’ rights legislation guarantee that victims’ families would be informed by prison authorities of the date an execution is to be carried out.
According to Israel’s Haaretz daily, the law now applies in any area effectively controlled by Israel, including the occupied West Bank and 53% of the Gaza Strip.
The newspaper said the legislation distinguishes between Palestinian attacks and Jewish nationalist violence, since it applies only to those accused of acting “with the aim of denying the existence of the State of Israel.”
Haaretz added that the law would make the ideological burden of proof required for its implementation nearly impossible to establish.
*Writing By Tarek Chouiref
