Palestine: Palestine on Monday condemned the passage of a law by the Israeli Knesset that mandates the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners as a 'war crime.'
According to Anadolu Agency, the Palestinian Authority described the law as a blatant violation of international humanitarian law, specifically citing the Fourth Geneva Convention, which ensures protection and fair trial rights for individuals. The authority's statement highlighted the law as a component of the escalating policies pursued by Israeli authorities throughout Palestinian territories, including Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
The Palestinian Authority urged the international community to adopt a firm stance against these violations and to hold Israel accountable. They warned that such laws could exacerbate tensions and threaten regional security and stability.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry echoed these sentiments, denouncing the Israeli law as a step towards legalizing genocide and extrajudicial executions. They called on the international community to impose sanctions on Israel, isolate its institutions, and protect Palestinian prisoners.
Various Palestinian factions and officials voiced their condemnation of the legislation. Ahmed Majdalani, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization's Executive Committee, labeled the law as a clear violation of the Geneva Conventions and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. He urged signatories to the Geneva Conventions to convene and halt the law, which he claimed legalizes extrajudicial killing.
The Fatah movement also criticized the law, asserting that it legalizes the killing policies and violates international treaties. In a statement sent to Anadolu, Fatah emphasized that the legislation institutionalizes the hardships faced by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, including killings, medical neglect, and torture. They called on the international community to take a decisive stance against such practices.
Hamas called for urgent action from the international community and human rights organizations to halt what it termed as an 'escalating criminal campaign' and to protect Palestinian prisoners. They expressed that the law's approval showcases the occupation's violent nature and its approach rooted in killing and terrorism.
The Palestinian National Initiative called for sanctions and boycotts against Israel, describing the law as the culmination of Israel's shift towards 'racist fascism' and the entrenchment of an apartheid system. They urged for more than just statements of condemnation, advocating for sanctions against the entire Israeli system.
The law was approved in its second and third readings, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voting in favor.