Key Points
- The countries include Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
- Foreign ministers described the legislation as discriminatory and a dangerous escalation.
- Raised concern over abuse of Palestinian prisoners, including torture, starvation, and denial of basic rights.
- Ministers linked the law to a broader pattern of violations against Palestinians.
- Israeli PM Netanyahu supported the bill, which passed with 62 votes in favour.
- UN condemns Israeli death penalty law.
ISLAMABAD: Eight Muslim nations have condemned a controversial Israeli occupying power’s bill allowing a death sentence to Palestinian prisoners in the occupied West Bank.
Foreign Ministers from Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, in a statement on Thursday warned against the ‘increasingly discriminatory, escalating Israeli practices that entrench a system of apartheid and a rejectionist discourse that denies the inalienable rights and the very existence of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
The Ministers emphasised that this legislation represents a serious and dangerous escalation, especially due to its discriminatory targeting of Palestinian prisoners.
They warned that such measures could further heighten tensions and contribute to instability in the region.
They also voiced concern over the conditions faced by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention, highlighting growing risks based on credible reports of abuse, including torture, inhumane and degrading treatment, starvation, and the denial of fundamental rights.
🔊PR No.8️⃣7️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE, April 2, 2026 https://t.co/GKTdbpMA4x
🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/JorvmR440f— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 2, 2026
The Ministers stressed that these actions are part of a wider pattern of violations against the Palestinian people.
“The Ministers reaffirmed their opposition to Israel’s racially discriminatory, oppressive, and aggressive policies targeting Palestinians,” the statement said.
The Ministers further stressed the need to refrain from measures imposed by the occupying power that risk further inflaming tensions on the ground.
“They stressed the importance of ensuring accountability and called for strengthened international efforts to uphold stability and prevent further deterioration,” it concluded.
Benjamin Netanyahu voted in favour
The bill passed with 62 lawmakers voting in favour, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and 48 voting against.
It was introduced by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who publicly signalled his support by wearing a noose-shaped lapel pin ahead of the vote.
Under the proposed law, Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank who are found guilty by military courts of intentionally carrying out deadly attacks would face the death penalty as the default punishment.
Human rights organisation moves Israeli Supreme Court
Shortly after its passage, a prominent human rights organisation filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking to have the legislation overturned.
“The law creates two parallel tracks, both designed to apply to Palestinians,” the Association for Civil Rights in Israel said in a statement.
“In military courts — which have jurisdiction over West Bank Palestinians — it establishes a near-mandatory death sentence,” the rights group said.
Israel has no sovereignty over Palestinian land
The Palestinian Authority condemned the law’s adoption, saying that “Israel has no sovereignty over Palestinian land.”
“This law once again reveals the nature of the Israeli colonial system, which seeks to legitimise extrajudicial killing under legislative cover,” it added.
UN condemns Israeli death penalty law
The United Nations on Tuesday strongly opposed the controversial, calling it “particularly cruel and discriminatory.”
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters at a news conference that the UN and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have a “very clear” stance on Israel’s legislation imposing the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners.
“We stand against the death penalty in all its forms,” he said, adding that “the nature of this particular law makes it particularly cruel and discriminatory.”
Western nations voice deep concern
Before Israel enacted the new law, the foreign ministers of Australia, Germany, France, Italy, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom voiced “deep concern” about the proposed legislation.
In a joint statement, they warned that it could be discriminatory and might undermine Israel’s democratic principles.
They also reaffirmed their opposition to capital punishment, calling it “inhumane and degrading” and noting that it has no proven deterrent effect, while urging Israeli lawmakers to drop the bill.
OIC condemnation
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Tuesday also condemned the approval of the law by the Israeli Parliament.
The General Secretariat of the OIC, in a statement, termed the move dangerous, which would grant a licence for murder and political execution against the Palestinian people, in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
