UN experts urge Israel to withdraw proposed mandatory death penalty bill

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - UN human rights experts on Wednesday urged Israel to withdraw a proposed bill introducing mandatory death sentences for certain terrorist acts, warning it would violate international law and disproportionately target Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory.

"Mandatory death sentences are contrary to the right to life. By removing judicial and prosecutorial discretion, they prevent a court from considering the individual circumstances, including mitigating factors, and from imposing a proportionate sentence that fits the crime," the experts said.

According to the statement, the bill creates two tracks. In the occupied West Bank, military courts would impose the death penalty for acts causing death, even if unintended. In Israel and occupied East Jerusalem, it would apply only to the "intentional killing of Israeli citizens or residents."

The experts said vague and broad definitions of terrorism could capture conduct "that is not genuinely terrorist," while making capital punishment mandatory.

They warned that "unintentional killings are not 'most serious’ crimes" under international law and said Israeli military trials "typically do not meet fair trial standards," adding: "Denial of a fair trial is also a war crime."

The proposal would also allow death sentences by a simple majority of military judges, bar pardons, restrict access to legal counsel, and mandate hanging within 90 days. "Hanging amounts to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment under international law," they said.

"We urge Israel to put an end to the death penalty, in line with the global trend towards abolition," the experts concluded.