Muslim countries condemn Israeli law on executing Palestinian prisoners

A group of Muslim countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Indonesia, has condemned the Israeli Knesset’s approval of a law authorizing the execution of Palestinian prisoners, warning that it poses serious risks to regional stability.

In a joint statement issued Thursday, the foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Indonesia, Jordan, and Pakistan described the legislation as a “dangerous escalation,” particularly due to what they characterised as its discriminatory application against Palestinians.

The ministers warned that the law could fuel existing tensions and deepen instability in an already volatile regional environment.

According to the version approved by the Israeli Knesset earlier this week, the law allows for the death penalty or life imprisonment for individuals convicted of intentionally killing Israelis with the aim of harming citizens or undermining the state.

However, in the West Bank — which has been under Israeli occupation since 1967 — the application of the law differs, with the death penalty becoming the default sentence if a military court classifies the act as “terrorism.”

Critics argue that the law establishes a dual legal standard, as it allows for the execution of Palestinians accused of killing Israelis, while the same penalty is not applied to Israelis who kill Palestinians.

The legislation has drawn criticism from international actors, including the United Nations and the European Union, while the United States has expressed support for what it describes as Israel’s sovereign right to legislate.

In their statement, the ministers warned that such policies contribute to entrenching a reality resembling an apartheid system, driven by exclusionary practices that deny Palestinians their fundamental rights, including their right to exist on their land.