EU to press Israel to scrap law allowing execution of convicted Palestinians

Published on 31/03/2026 - 8:44 GMT+2

The EU is acceptable to impulse Israel to reverse people aft its parliament approved a measure allowing the execution of Palestinian convicted of nationalistic killings.

In a draught connection seen by Euronews, overseas argumentation main Kaja Kallas warns the determination marks a “grave regression” from Israel’s erstwhile commitments nether planetary instrumentality and the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

The text, to beryllium issued connected behalf of the 27 subordinate states, highlights “particular concern” implicit what it describes arsenic the bill’s “de facto discriminatory character”.

“The EU urges Israel to abide by its erstwhile principled presumption and its obligations nether planetary law,” the draught seen exclusively by Euronews says.

It reiterates the bloc’s long-standing absorption to superior punishment, stating: “The decease punishment is simply a usurpation of the close to beingness and cannot beryllium carried retired without breaching the implicit prohibition connected torture and different ill-treatment.”

The authorities — the Penal Bill (Amendment: Death Penalty for Terrorists) — passed its last signifier connected Monday successful the Knesset. It allows courts to enforce a decease condemnation for coercion offences oregon for “negating the beingness of the State of Israel”.

Legal experts pass the measurement is apt to beryllium applied astir exclusively to Palestinians, alternatively than Jewish Israelis accused of akin acts.

The measure was approved by 62 lawmakers, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with 48 voting against. It was championed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Under the law, judges tin manus down decease sentences without a petition from prosecutors. In astir cases, execution would beryllium mandatory unless exceptional circumstances are recognised by the court.

Those sentenced would beryllium held successful abstracted facilities and denied household visits. According to Ben-Gvir, executions could instrumentality spot wrong 90 days of sentencing.

The EU notes Israel has agelong maintained a de facto moratorium connected executions, “leading by illustration successful the region”.

Israel has carried retired executions lone twice: successful 1962, erstwhile Nazi warfare transgression Adolf Eichmann was enactment to death, and successful 1948, erstwhile serviceman Meir Tobianski was executed for treason — a condemnation aboriginal overturned.

“Capital punishment has nary proven deterrent effect and makes judicial errors irreversible,” the EU draught adds.

EU subordinate states person until astir 10:00 americium Brussels contiguous to suggest amendments to the text.