Strasbourg: The Council of Europe expressed concern on Monday over Israeli legislation imposing the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners. According to Anadolu Agency, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, has voiced deep concern following the adoption of a law by the Knesset on March 30, 2026, which expands the use of the death penalty in Israel. The council's written statement highlighted that the law's adoption comes despite repeated calls from the Council of Europe urging Israeli authorities to renounce it. The statement emphasized that the enactment of this law represents a significant departure from the values to which Israel has historically aligned itself. The council described this legislative move as a "serious regression," arguing that the death penalty is a legal relic incompatible with contemporary human-rights standards. The Council of Europe further stated that any discriminatory application of the death penalty is unacceptable in a state governed by the rule of law. T he council reiterated that the death penalty is incompatible with fundamental rights and respect for human dignity, asserting its opposition to the death penalty "in all places and under all circumstances." It committed to closely monitoring developments related to this law and its implications for the Council of Europe conventions and cooperation mechanisms in which Israel participates. Earlier 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. Data from prisoners' rights organizations and the Israeli Prison Service indicate that more than 9,300 Palestinians, including 350 children and 66 women, are currently imprisoned in Israeli jails. Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations report that these prisoners endure torture, starvation, and medical neglect, which have resulted in numerous deaths. Since October 2023, Israel has intensified its measures against Pale stinian prisoners, aligning with its military actions in the Gaza Strip supported by the US, resulting in over 72,000 deaths and 172,000 injuries.