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The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates released the joint statement, which described the legislation as a serious escalation that entrenches a system of apartheid through increasingly discriminatory practices. According to the statement, the measure risks deepening regional tensions and further destabilizing an already volatile situation. The condemnation followed the Israeli Knesset’s passage of the bill late on March 30, 2026, by a vote of 62 to 48.[[1]](https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/israel-passes-mandatory-death-penalty-for-palestinians-convicted-of-terrorism-flouting-international-law-and-drawing-widespread-condemnation)
The law stipulates that Palestinians convicted in military courts of deadly terror attacks classified as terrorism will face capital punishment as the default sentence, with life imprisonment serving only as an exception. Al Jazeera reported that the legislation applies exclusively to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, since Israeli citizens facing similar charges are tried in civilian courts where the death penalty is not imposed.[[2]](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/2/muslim-majority-countries-condemn-israels-one-sided-new-death-penalty-law) This distinction has fueled accusations that the bill formalizes unequal treatment under the law. The News On AIR account noted that the measure has drawn criticism from the United Nations and the European Union.
Israel has maintained the death penalty on its statute books but has not carried out an execution since the 1962 case of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, a fact multiple outlets highlighted in coverage of the new legislation. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who championed the bill, declared after its approval that the rule is death and life imprisonment is the exception. The development comes amid ongoing debates over Israel’s military justice system in the West Bank, where Palestinian defendants face different procedures than Israeli settlers.
A statement from the European Union reminded Israel of its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement and urged the country to uphold its previous principled position against the death penalty. The EU called on Israel to align with its commitments under international law and democratic principles. In contrast, the United States expressed support for what it termed Israel’s sovereign right to determine its own laws, according to the Indian public broadcaster’s report.
The joint statement from the eight nations warned against the de facto application of the death penalty solely against Palestinians and called for adherence to international norms. Human rights organizations have previously documented how the military court system has processed thousands of cases involving Palestinians since 1967. The new legislation adds to longstanding concerns about the two-tiered legal framework operating in the occupied territories.
Pakistan released the joint statement on behalf of the group, which emphasized that such measures undermine prospects for regional stability. The countries urged Israel to refrain from further actions that could exacerbate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Coverage from various outlets, including Al Jazeera, underscored the broad consensus among the condemning nations on the bill’s implications for international law.
