Arab Organisation for Human Rights in the UK (AOHR UK) strongly criticise the approval of a draft law on implementing the death penalty against Palestinian prisoners. This illegal legislation approved by the Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislative Affairs on Sunday, February 26, 2023, reflects the extremism of the Israeli occupation, which clearly violates the international laws and treaties guaranteeing full protection for Palestinian prisoner inside the occupation prisons.
AOHR UK added that the draft law, which seeks to legalise the killing of Palestinians through court orders, came along with a systematic repression campaign launched against Palestinian prisoners with the aim of stripping their rights that they had obtained after long years of struggle.
The draft law also came in light of unprecedented escalation against Palestinians in the West Bank cities and towns, where dozens of Palestinian homes and cars were burned and damaged in settler attacks.
AOHR UK added that the draft law is scheduled to be voted on at the Knesset, in which Netanyahu’s coalition forms a majority. It is worth noting that the extremist Ben Gvir and his supporters are calling for the approving the law before the holy month of Ramadan to further provoke the feelings of the Palestinians.
AOHR UK pointed that under the Israeli bill, a death penalty can be imposed on persons who intentionally or out of indifference cause the death of an Israeli citizen, noting that the Ministerial Committee for Legislation decided to hold a discussion session in the security cabinet before being submitted to the Knesset.
AOHR UK denounced the international community’s passive position towards the Israeli occupation’s ongoing crimes where the international decision-makers continue to remain idly before a major crime aiming to end the Palestinian presence through growing settlement construction, restriction on Palestinian movement, and unlawful killing, which resulted in the murder of more than 60 Palestinians and the injury of hundreds more since start of the year.
AOHR UK warned that the international community’s continued passive position of turning a blind eye to the Israeli crimes of the occupation and Israeli draft laws that allow the expulsion and execution of Palestinians amid total impunity will only lead to further violence, more victims, and a religious war in the region.
