Israel Extends Apartheid Death Penalty Law to Occupied West Bank

An Israeli military commander has signed an order to officially extend the state’s apartheid death penalty law to the West Bank, a move that accelerates the annexation of the illegally occupied territory.

Major general Avi Bluth of Israel’s Central Command signed the order on Sunday. It means Palestinians convicted of “terrorism” can be executed by hanging, but Israelis would not face the same penalty for the same crime.

“This law consolidates more clearly than ever before the extent of Israel’s apartheid judicial system,” the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) said in a statement.  “It is an entrenchment of Israel’s genocidal policies that are prevalent not just in Gaza, but across the occupied Palestinian territory.”

Under the law, the death penalty is the default sentence for those convicted of intentional killings classified as acts of terrorism, and sentences must be carried out within 90 days. Military courts in the West Bank can impose the sentence with a simple majority, even if prosecutors do not request capital punishment.  

Inside Israeli territory, civilian courts can impose the penalty for intentional killings committed with the aim of “negating the existence of the State of Israel” – language widely interpreted to mean the law effectively does not apply to Jewish Israelis.

“While the law does not explicitly reference ethnicity or nationality, it is effectively designed to target Palestinians exclusively,” Amnesty International said. “It also introduces an exceptional execution regime by hanging, characterised by secrecy and limited access to legal counsel and external oversight.”

Thousands of Palestinians are detained across occupied territory and throughout Israel in what rights group B’Tselem has called a network of torture camps. The conviction rate for Palestinians is higher than 99%, and few can expect a fair trial.

Israel is now imprisoning more Palestinian children than ever before, with roughly half held without even being accused of a crime.