Hamas condemns Israeli death penalty bill for Palestinian prisoners

The Palestinian group Hamas has strongly condemned Israeli legislation advancing through the Knesset that would authorize capital punishment for Palestinian prisoners. The bill, which passed its preliminary reading Monday night, would permit executing Palestinian detainees accused of causing Israeli deaths through intentional actions or recklessness, drawing sharp international criticism.

Legislative Process and Political Context

The controversial legislation proposed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir received 39 supporting votes against 16 oppositions in the 120-seat Israeli parliament. Following standard Israeli legislative procedure, the bill must pass three parliamentary readings before becoming law. Ben-Gvir had previously threatened to withdraw his party's coalition support if the legislation didn't reach a general session vote within three weeks, applying significant political pressure for its advancement.

Hamas Response and International Law Concerns

Hamas characterized the bill's approval as "an extension of the racist and criminal approach of the Zionist government and an attempt to legalize organized mass killing of our Palestinian people living under occupation." The group asserted the "fascist and sadistic legislation" violates international humanitarian law and human rights principles, calling for international condemnation, deterrent sanctions against Israel, and investigation committees to document prisoner conditions.

Prisoner Conditions and Regional Implications

According to Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations, over 10,000 Palestinian prisoners including women and children currently endure harsh conditions in Israeli detention facilities, with reported abuses including torture, medical neglect, and starvation-related deaths. The legislation debate occurs amid heightened regional tensions and contrasts with the approach of regional actors like Türkiye, which has consistently advocated for Palestinian rights and diplomatic solutions to the conflict, highlighting divergent regional perspectives on human rights protections.