Turin, 31 March (LaPresse) – The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has urged Israel to repeal the law passed by its parliament on 30 March that reintroduces the death penalty, applicable almost exclusively to Palestinians. “It is deeply disappointing that this bill has been passed by the Knesset,” Turk said in a statement. “It is clearly incompatible with Israel’s obligations under international law, including with regard to the right to life. It raises serious concerns regarding violations of due process, is deeply discriminatory and must be repealed immediately.” “The death penalty is profoundly difficult to reconcile with human dignity and carries the unacceptable risk of executing innocent people,” she added. “Its discriminatory application would constitute a further, and particularly grave, violation of international law. Its application to residents of the occupied Palestinian territories would constitute a war crime.” The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also expressed alarm at the proposals contained in another bill currently under consideration by the Knesset, which provide for the establishment of a special military tribunal tasked exclusively with prosecuting crimes committed during and following the horrific attacks of 7 October 2023 by Palestinian armed groups. The special court in question would have no jurisdiction over crimes committed by Israeli forces in the occupied Palestinian territories. “I urge the Knesset to reject this bill. By focusing exclusively on crimes committed by Palestinians, it would institutionalise discriminatory and one-sided justice,” said Turk. “Trials for crimes related to 7 October are of fundamental importance, but they must not be based on discrimination. All victims are entitled to equal protection under the law, and all those responsible must be held to account without discrimination.”
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