RAMALLAH, West Bank /PNN/

Palestinian rights groups Al-Haq and Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association have submitted two reports to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, warning that a proposed Israeli law expanding the use of the death penalty would violate international law and disproportionately target Palestinians.

The submissions were made in response to calls for input from the United Nations for reports by the secretary-general on the death penalty and by the special rapporteur on summary, extrajudicial or arbitrary executions.

The groups say the proposed legislation — known as the Draft Penal Bill Amendment No. 159 – Death Penalty for Terrorists — represents a major escalation in Israeli policy toward Palestinians. The bill was approved in a preliminary reading by Israel’s Knesset and could impose capital punishment on Palestinians accused of killing Israeli citizens under certain circumstances.

If enacted, the bill would require the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of causing the death of an Israeli citizen “deliberately or through indifference,” when prosecutors argue the act was motivated by hostility toward Israel or intended to harm the state.

According to the rights groups, the proposed law would create separate legal tracks depending on where the alleged crime occurred. In the occupied West Bank, military courts would be able to impose the death penalty under military law with a simple majority ruling by judges. In Israel and occupied East Jerusalem, the punishment would be applied through Israeli civilian courts.

The organizations say the bill would apply almost exclusively to Palestinians and would mandate executions by hanging within 90 days of sentencing, with no possibility of commutation.

Concerns over international law

In their submissions, the groups argued the proposal violates international legal standards, including provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which restricts the use of the death penalty to the “most serious crimes” and requires strict guarantees of fair trials.

They said trials conducted in Israeli military courts lack key due process safeguards, including judicial independence and adequate access to legal counsel, making any resulting death sentences arbitrary under international law.

The bill would also violate the right to life under international law and could expose detainees — including minors — to the risk of execution, the groups said.

Human rights organizations have also documented allegations of torture and ill-treatment in Israeli detention facilities. The groups warned that such practices raise concerns that convictions could rely on coerced confessions or unlawfully obtained evidence.

Wider detention concerns

The submissions note a sharp rise in Palestinian detentions since the October 7 attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza Strip. The groups estimate that about 11,000 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, detention facilities and interrogation centers — more than double the number held before October 2023.

As of mid-2025, about 360 Palestinian children were reported to be in Israeli custody, the highest figure in nearly a decade, with some held in administrative detention without formal charges.

The organizations say the proposed law must be viewed within the broader context of Israel’s policies toward Palestinians in the occupied territories.

Calls for international action

In their submissions, Al-Haq and Addameer urged the United Nations and the United Nations Security Council to take action, including pressuring Israel to withdraw the bill and ensuring compliance with international law.

They also called on states to uphold obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention, including measures aimed at preventing collective punishment and protecting civilians under occupation.

The groups further urged the International Criminal Court to accelerate its investigation into the situation in Palestine.

The proposed law has not yet been passed and must undergo additional legislative stages before becoming Israeli law.