Jerusalem: Amnesty International has called for the urgent repeal of recent legislative amendments in Israel that expand the use of the death penalty. The amendments, backed by 62 members of the Knesset, mark a significant shift in Israel's legal landscape regarding capital punishment.

According to Anadolu Agency, the first in a series of laws facilitating the death penalty was adopted by Israel's parliament, a move Amnesty International describes as demonstrating cruelty, discrimination, and a disregard for human rights. Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International's senior director of Research, Advocacy, Policy, and Campaigns, emphasized concerns over military courts, which have conviction rates exceeding 99% for Palestinian defendants. These courts can impose nearly mandatory death sentences within 90 days, effectively bypassing fundamental fair-trial safeguards.

The law's passage comes amid controversy, as it coincides with the Israeli military dropping all charges against soldiers accused of sexually assaulting a Palestinian detainee-a decision celebrated by the prime minister. The newly passed legislation by the Knesset establishes the death penalty as the default punishment for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank convicted of lethal attacks against Israelis.

Currently, more than 9,300 Palestinians, including 350 children and 66 women, are detained in Israeli jails. Reports from prisoners' rights organizations and the Israeli Prison Service highlight issues of torture, starvation, and medical neglect, contributing to numerous fatalities.

Since October 2023, Israel has increased its measures against Palestinian prisoners amidst its military operations in the Gaza Strip. These operations have resulted in over 72,000 deaths and 172,000 injuries, according to local authorities.