Israel’s death penalty law perpetuates racial discrimination: UN watchdog
A United Nations committee has criticized Israel's new death penalty law, stating it perpetuates racial discrimination by applying almost exclusively to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination urged Israel to repeal the law, calling it a severe erosion of human rights and a violation of its international obligations. The committee also called on other countries to ensure they do not support policies that discriminate against Palestinians.
- ▪The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination stated that Israel's new death penalty law is de facto applicable only to Palestinians.
- ▪The law, passed in March 2026, mandates the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of deadly 'terrorist' attacks by military courts in the occupied West Bank.
- ▪The committee urged Israel to end policies amounting to racial discrimination and ensure equal treatment under the law for all detainees.
- ▪UN rights chief Volker Turk previously warned that applying the law in occupied territory would constitute a war crime.
- ▪Israel has carried out only two executions in its history, the last being in 1962.
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Israel’s death penalty law perpetuates racial discrimination: UN watchdogSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxA girl steps on mock nooses during a rally in the occupied West bank city of Hebron on April 16.PHOTO: AFPPublished May 01, 2026, 05:15 PMUpdated May 01, 2026, 05:15 PMGENEVA – Israel’s new death penalty law permitting the execution of Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks perpetuates racial discrimination against them, a United Nations committee said on May 1, urging its immediate repeal.
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