As Israel advances a bill to impose the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners, the world witnesses a dangerous escalation in the formalisation of extrajudicial killings. The proposed “Death Penalty for Terrorists” law, now moving swiftly through the Knesset with the support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, represents a historic shift from de facto executions in the field and in prisons to state-sanctioned judicial killings.
For decades, Israel has maintained a system of impunity for soldiers and officers involved in the killing and torture of Palestinians. Now, by extending execution to the courtroom, Israel seeks to codify discrimination and legitimise political vengeance against those it labels as “terrorists” — a term applied almost exclusively to Palestinians.
In this context, AOHR UK will hold a dedicated webinar to examine the legal, political, and human rights ramifications of this bill, bringing together international experts to address its dangers and mobilise accountability efforts.
This webinar will examine the implications of this legislation in light of international law, Israel’s human rights obligations, and the broader pattern of systematic violence, torture, and death in custody. Experts will explore how the law aims to silence resistance, entrench apartheid, and undermine the very notion of justice.
Main Discussion Points:
- The Legislative Process: Status of the death penalty bill in the Knesset and its political drivers.
- Judicial Discrimination: How the law applies solely to Palestinians and violates equality before the law.
- International Law Implications: Contradictions with the ICCPR, the Convention Against Torture, and customary international norms.
- From Extrajudicial to Judicial Execution: Linking field killings, torture, and prison deaths to the push for a legal death penalty.
- Accountability and Advocacy: The role of international mechanisms and human rights organisations in confronting Israel’s impunity.
Speakers:
• Professor Stephen Zunes- Professor of International Security and Foreign Policy at the University of San Francisco
• Dr. Jeff Halper- Head of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD)
• Dr Lex Takkenberg- ARDD’s Senior Advisor & Former Director of UNRWA Operations
• Malik Ben Achour – Member of the Belgian Parliament
• Milena Ansari – Assistant Researcher in the Israel/Palestine Division at Human Rights Watch
Date and Time:
Thursday | 13 November 2025 at 17:00 UK Time
