They warned that the measures violate international law and fundamental human rights standards.
High Commissioner Volker Türk raised serious concerns about draft proposals currently before Israel’s Knesset, describing them as discriminatory and incompatible with the right to life and due process. He stressed that the United Nations opposes the death penalty in all circumstances, citing the irreversible risk of executing innocent people.
The proposed legislation would lower the threshold for applying capital punishment and remove judicial discretion by making death sentences mandatory in certain cases. According to the UN human rights office, such provisions would breach Israel’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Türk further warned that the proposals appear designed to apply only to Palestinians, particularly those tried in military courts in the occupied West Bank, where longstanding concerns exist over fair trial standards. He noted that discriminatory application of the death penalty would amount to a serious violation of international human rights and humanitarian law.
Under the proposed amendments, military courts would be required to impose the death penalty for convictions of intentional killing in the occupied territory. Changes to Israel’s Penal Law would also allow capital punishment for the intentional killing of Israelis in acts defined as terrorism. The UN cautioned that this could result in retroactive application, which is prohibited under international law.
The proposals come in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attacks, during which more than 1 200 people were killed and over 250 taken hostage. Israel’s subsequent military offensive in Gaza has reportedly resulted in more than 70 000 Palestinian deaths, intensifying international scrutiny of the conflict and its legal implications.
While a ceasefire reached in October has enabled increased humanitarian access, UN officials warn that medical services remain overstretched and political efforts to advance a comprehensive peace plan have stalled. The High Commissioner reiterated that accountability and respect for international law are essential to preventing further loss of life and safeguarding human dignity.
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
