JEDDAH: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned the proposed Israeli bill to execute Palestinian prisoners, describing it as discriminatory and legally invalid.
The OIC, in a statement, emphasised that such measures violate international humanitarian law, the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of prisoners of war, and relevant United Nations resolutions.
It urged the international community to fulfill its responsibilities by taking effective measures to end all violations committed by the Israeli occupation and to ensure international protection for the Palestinian people.
An Israeli parliamentary committee on Monday advanced a bill seeking to impose the death penalty on individuals convicted of terrorism—a proposal championed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
The National Security Committee approved the amendment to the penal code, paving the way for its first reading in parliament.
Israel’s hostages coordinator, Gal Hirsch, confirmed that both he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu support the measure.
According to Wafa news agency, the bill to execute prisoners is not new; it has been proposed repeatedly over the years, most recently in 2022 when the far-right minister Ben-Gvir reintroduced it with a number of amendments. It was eventually approved by the Knesset in its preliminary reading in March 2023.
More than 10,000 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, including women and children, and face torture, starvation, and medical neglect, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights groups, cited by Anadolu news agency. Several detainees have died in custody.
Rights organisations say Ben-Gvir has sharply worsened prison conditions, restricting family visits, cutting food rations, and limiting prisoners’ access to showers.
