Canberra: Australia opposes the "death penalty in all instances," Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated during a closed-door caucus meeting on Tuesday, referencing recent Israeli legislation imposing the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners.

According to Anadolu Agency, Wong's remarks come after Australia, alongside Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom, signed a joint statement on Sunday. The statement expressed concern about the "de facto discriminatory character of the bill" and emphasized the notion that the death penalty is an "inhumane and degrading form of punishment without any deterring effect."

On Monday, Israel's Knesset passed the law, establishing the death penalty as the default punishment for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank convicted of lethal attacks against Israelis. This legislative move has attracted international criticism.

Currently, over 9,300 Palestinians, including 350 children and 66 women, are imprisoned in Israeli jails. Data from prisoners' rights organizations and the Israeli Prison Service indicate that these prisoners suffer from torture, starvation, and medical neglect, leading to the deaths of dozens.

Since October 2023, Israel has intensified its actions against Palestinian prisoners, corresponding with its ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip supported by the United States. This conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 72,000 people and injuries to 172,000 others.