A Joint statement by the foreign ministers of the UAE, Jordan, Türkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar has been issued by the Arab Nations on the death penalty Law in the West Bank.
Arab Nations strongly condemned the Israeli occupying power’s enactment of a law in its Parliament, the Knesset.
According to the statement, the law allowed for the imposition of the death penalty in the occupied West Bank and its de facto application against Palestinians.
The Knesset approved the legislation, making death by hanging the default sentence for Palestinians found guilty in military courts of carrying out deadly attacks classified as terrorism.
Additionally, the Nation noted that the death penalty law was discriminatory and denied the rights of the Palestinians.
“The Ministers warned against the increasingly discriminatory, escalating Israeli practices that entrench a system of apartheid and a rejectionist discourse that denies the inalienable rights and the very existence of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT),” part of the statement read.
Under the new rules, those sentenced to death will be held apart from other prisoners with strict restrictions on the prisoners as the execution will be done within 90 days of sentencing.
Appeals and clemency options are severely limited for West Bank Palestinians.
Arab Nations on Palestinian prisoners’ Conditions
Ministers in the joint statement also stated that action by Israel would lead to the escalation of the conflict and undermine regional stability.
Further, the Nations noted that the death penalty law underscored that this legislation constitutes a discriminatory application against Palestinian prisoners.
In addition, the ministers expressed concern over the condition of the Palestinian prisoners detained by the Israelis.
Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention were subjected to violations, such as credible reports of ongoing abuses, including torture, inhumane and degrading treatment, starvation, and the denial of basic rights, which were a violation of their rights, according to the ministers.
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The Ministers reaffirmed their opposition to Israel’s racially discriminatory, oppressive, and aggressive policies targeting Palestinians.
Further, they emphasized the urgent need to refrain from measures imposed by the occupying power that risk further inflaming tensions on the ground.
Adding that it is important to ensure accountability and calling for strengthened international efforts to uphold stability and prevent further deterioration.
US on the Death Penalty Law
United States Representative Rashida Tlaib criticized the Israeli government for passing the death penalty law in the West Bank on March 30.
According to Tlaib, the law was a dangerous escalation in the ongoing conflict.
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In her public account, she pointed out reports of harsh treatment of Palestinian prisoners and warned that the measure would deepen divisions and undermine any hope for peace.
Reports by The Guardian show that Britain, France, Germany, and Italy issued a joint statement on March 29 on Israel’s democratic standards.
UN experts had earlier urged Israel to drop the bill, arguing it discriminates against Palestinians.
Despite the condemnation from various states, Ben-Gvir and other supporters of the bill stated that the death penalty was an accountability measure for terrorists.
