Israeli parliament approves law expanding death penalty for Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks

First covered Monday, March 30, 2026International AffairsWell-covered

The Facts

Israel’s parliament approved the law in its third and final reading on Monday.
The vote in the Knesset was 62 in favor and 48 against, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voted for the measure.
The law makes the death penalty by hanging the default punishment for Palestinians convicted in Israeli military courts of carrying out deadly attacks deemed acts of terrorism.
The law says executions are to be carried out within 90 days of sentencing, with some reports noting a possible postponement of up to 180 days.
The legislation was championed by far-right figures, especially National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his party.
Ben-Gvir publicly celebrated the law’s passage, posting on X: “We made history!!! We promised. We delivered.”
The law can in theory apply to Jewish Israelis as well, but reports say its requirement that an attack aim to “negate” or “end” Israel’s existence means it would in practice almost certainly not be used against them.
Several European governments warned before the vote that the bill’s de facto discriminatory character risked undermining democratic principles.

Context

What does the new law change?

It makes death by hanging the default sentence for Palestinians convicted in Israeli military courts of carrying out deadly attacks classified as terrorism, replacing what had been a far more limited use of capital punishment in Israel BBC,BBC,Guardian.

Does the law apply only to Palestinians?

The law can theoretically apply to Israeli citizens too, but reports say the threshold is tied to attacks intended to “negate” or “end” the existence of the state of Israel, making it in practice overwhelmingly directed at Palestinians rather than Jewish Israelis BBC,BBC,India Today.

Why has the law drawn international criticism?

Critics say the measure is discriminatory because it is structured to fall mainly on Palestinians, and the foreign ministers of Germany, France, Italy and the UK said before the vote that it risked undermining democratic principles while opposing the death penalty in all circumstances gov.uk,BBC,BBC.

Israeli parliament approves law expanding death penalty for Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks

First covered Monday, March 30, 2026International AffairsWell-covered

The Facts

Israel’s parliament approved the law in its third and final reading on Monday.
The vote in the Knesset was 62 in favor and 48 against, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voted for the measure.
The law makes the death penalty by hanging the default punishment for Palestinians convicted in Israeli military courts of carrying out deadly attacks deemed acts of terrorism.
The law says executions are to be carried out within 90 days of sentencing, with some reports noting a possible postponement of up to 180 days.
The legislation was championed by far-right figures, especially National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his party.
Ben-Gvir publicly celebrated the law’s passage, posting on X: “We made history!!! We promised. We delivered.”
The law can in theory apply to Jewish Israelis as well, but reports say its requirement that an attack aim to “negate” or “end” Israel’s existence means it would in practice almost certainly not be used against them.
Several European governments warned before the vote that the bill’s de facto discriminatory character risked undermining democratic principles.

Context

What does the new law change?

Does the law apply only to Palestinians?

Why has the law drawn international criticism?

Israeli parliament approves law expanding death penalty for Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks

The Facts

Context

Wire services (5)

Independent coverage (50)

Facts first. Then every angle.

Israeli parliament approves law expanding death penalty for Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks

The Facts

Context

Wire services (5)

Independent coverage (50)

Facts first. Then every angle.