Paris: France on Thursday labeled Israel's newly approved death penalty law for Palestinian prisoners as 'inhumane and degrading' following its passage in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. The law stipulates the death penalty as the default punishment for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank convicted of lethal attacks against Israelis. According to Anadolu Agency, French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux, when questioned by the agency, reiterated France's strong opposition to the death penalty during a press briefing. Confavreux stated, "The death penalty is a sanction that is both inhumane and degrading. France advocates for its universal abolition." He highlighted that France had already communicated its stance through a joint statement with Italy, the UK, and Germany, which was later supported by all 27 EU member states, expressing 'deep concern' over the law. Confavreux criticized the law for contradicting democratic principles and international commitments, pointing out its 'discrim inatory nature.' He further mentioned that the G7 and Gulf Cooperation Council countries are scheduled to meet next week to address the situation in the Strait of Hormuz amidst the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In response to Israel's Ambassador to Paris, Joshua Zarka, who described France's position as not 'friendly,' Confavreux remarked, "Being a friend sometimes requires saying things honestly." He acknowledged occasional disagreements with Israeli authorities and expressed concerns that many of the current Israeli government's policies do not support regional peace or stability. Additionally, Confavreux condemned the attacks that resulted in the deaths of three Indonesian members of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and mentioned that France had conveyed its strong disapproval to Israel's ambassador during a recent meeting. Regarding military overflights, he stated that requests for foreign military aircraft to transit French airspace are scrutinized individually, in accordance with France 's official position. He also affirmed that France is not a party to the conflict initiated by US and Israeli strikes on Iran and clarified that Paris has not altered its approach to such requests since the onset of the conflict. Confavreux confirmed that France continues to provide Israel with limited quantities of defensive military equipment and spare parts.