Ministers warn Israeli death penalty plan for Palestinians could raise tensions

Foreign ministers from eight Arab and Muslim countries warned Thursday that a proposed Israeli law introducing the death penalty for Palestinian detainees could heighten regional tensions, Anadolu reports.

In a joint statement, the ministers of Turkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates addressed the bill, saying it would apply the death penalty to Palestinian prisoners.

“The Ministers underscored that this legislation constitutes a dangerous escalation, particularly given its discriminatory application against Palestinian prisoners,” the statement said, adding that such measures risk “further exacerbating tensions and undermining regional stability.”

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The ministers said increasingly discriminatory Israeli practices risk entrenching “a system of apartheid” and promoting “a rejectionist discourse that denies the inalienable rights and the very existence of the Palestinian people” in the occupied Palestinian territory.

They also expressed concern about detention conditions, citing “credible reports of ongoing abuses, including torture, inhumane and degrading treatment, starvation, and the denial of basic rights.”

“These practices reflect a broader pattern of violations against the Palestinian people,” the statement said.

The ministers reaffirmed their opposition to what they described as “Israel’s racially discriminatory, oppressive, and aggressive policies targeting Palestinians,” and called for restraint.

They emphasized “the urgent need to refrain from measures imposed by the occupying power that risk further inflaming tensions,” urging accountability and stronger international efforts to maintain stability and prevent further deterioration.

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