Israel legalises death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis
Israel's parliament has passed a controversial law allowing the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of terror-related murders.
Summary
On March 30, 2026, Israel's parliament passed legislation allowing the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of committing deadly attacks against Israelis. This law also extends to Israeli citizens under similar charges.
The implementation of this law could necessitate revisions in judicial processes and operational protocols within the Israeli legal system, particularly concerning capital punishment cases.
The decision has generated considerable debate, both domestically and internationally, potentially impacting Israel's diplomatic relations and its legal standing in global human rights discussions.
Updates
Update at 19:36 UTC on 2026-03-30
DW News reported The new law, introduced by Israel's far-right government, was passed in parliament on Monday night.
Sources: DW News
Update at 19:52 UTC on 2026-03-30
DW News reported Israeli parliament has approved legislation to reestablish the death penalty for Palestinians. Although the number of countries carrying out executions is declining, the total number of executions is on the rise.
Sources: DW News
Update at 21:11 UTC on 2026-03-30
BBC World reported The new law, passed on Monday, was pushed hard by the far-right and Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Sources: BBC World
Update at 23:18 UTC on 2026-03-30
Le Monde reported The law was passed by 62 lawmakers to 48, marking a turning point in Israel's penal policy and further weakening the rule of law in the country.
Sources: Le Monde
Update at 12:00 UTC on 2026-04-01
EuroNews reported Israeli police broke up a protest outside parliament in Jerusalem as demonstrators voiced anger over a new law allowing the execution of Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks.
Sources: EuroNews