Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
1 April 2026 | 10:45 CAT
3-minute read

Outrage after Israel passed discriminatory death penalty law for Palestinians

On Monday, “Israel’s” parliament approved a law that would make death by hanging the default sentence for Palestinians convicted in military courts of deadly attacks. The new law was passed in the Knesset with a final vote of 62 in favour and 48 against.

Far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir strongly backed the measure, wearing noose-shaped lapel pins in the run-up to the vote. When the measure passed, he brandished a bottle in celebration as the chamber erupted in cheers.

The new legislation primarily affects Palestinians convicted of certain acts of terrorism. It mandates the death penalty within 90 days as the default sentence for West Bank residents – specifically excluding Israeli citizens or residents living there – who intentionally cause the death of a person in an act of terrorism.

The discriminatory nature of the law has led to widespread international criticism, with the EU denouncing the bill as a “grave regression” from Israel’s long-standing de facto moratorium on executions, and the UN stating the law is “patently inconsistent” with international law.

Following the vote, hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets in West Bank cities like Nablus, Ramallah, and Hebron to protest the establishment of a two-tier justice system that weaponises capital punishment against Palestinians.

Hafidh Ibrahim said during this week’s Media Lens on Radio Islam International that the law entrenches despicable actions that have already been carried out in practice and explained that the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) and Adalah have already filed petitions with the Supreme Court.

Analysts have observed that media coverage has been sparse. News stories that have covered the incident are neutral in tone — failing to outline the discriminatory design of the law and neglecting to contextualise the issue.

“There’s been very little coverage, and what coverage there is has been, you know, neutral, you know, not contextualising the issue, not talking about the discrimination, not linking it to Israel’s further, activities to actually entrench a racialised minority rule over majority…very little focus on the actual backlash that has happened. Many would prefer that this issue wasn’t governed,” Hafidh Deen said.

The current conflict in the Middle East has been dominating the media, with a specific focus on the Strait of Hormuz, which deflects attention from Israel and allows it to continue its heinous activities.

“There has been some coverage of its expansionist ideals in Lebanon, but nothing about the entrenchment, for example, of its occupation of the West Bank, which has been extended and expanded and accelerated in the past few months. And this basically is allowing Israel to create its own facts on the ground and basically change the situation on the ground,” Hafidh Deen said.

Analysts warn that Israel’s colonial plans could become concrete, with the possibility that it will entrench its dictatorial rule rather than establish a democratic state becoming increasingly real.

Hafidh Deen said that while rare criticism and sanctions from some European states signal a gradual political shift in response to public sentiment, the pace remains slow, and with regional and economic interests still enabling Israel’s actions, there are growing concerns that any meaningful change may come too late.

Listen to the Media Lens with Hafidh Ibrahim on Sabaahul Muslim, hosted by Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.