Muslim Nations Condemn Israel’s New Death Penalty Law

Several Muslim-majority countries have strongly condemned a new Israeli law that reintroduces the death penalty for certain terrorism-related offenses, saying it risks further escalating tensions in the region.

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement criticising the legislation, which was passed by Israel’s parliament earlier this week.

The ministers expressed concern over what they described as Israel’s “increasingly discriminatory and escalating practices” in the occupied West Bank.

They argued that the law reinforces an apartheid-like system and undermines the fundamental rights of Palestinians in the occupied territories.

The joint statement, reported by the Saudi Press Agency and released through Pakistan on Thursday, called for restraint and warned that such measures could inflame the situation on the ground.

Israel’s Knesset approved the bill on March 30, 2026. The legislation makes death by hanging the default sentence for Palestinians convicted in military courts of deadly attacks classified as terrorism. Executions would be carried out within 90 days of conviction.

In Israel’s civilian courts, judges retain discretion to impose either the death penalty or life imprisonment for murder with a terrorism motive aimed at undermining the state.

The bill was introduced by the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Human rights groups have opposed the legislation. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has filed a petition with the Supreme Court to block the law, describing it as a dangerous escalation that undermines human rights protections.

Critics say the law disproportionately targets Palestinians, as it is expected to apply primarily in military courts operating in the occupied territories.