The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has issued an urgent appeal to Israeli authorities to halt proposed legislation that would introduce mandatory death sentences applicable exclusively to Palestinians, warning that the bills violate international law and fundamental human rights principles.
In a statement released on Friday, 2nd January 2026, Turk said the draft laws now before the Israeli Parliament go against international law in many ways.
He warned that the proposals raise serious concerns about discrimination, fair trials, and the right to life.
The proposed legislation seeks to lower existing legal conditions for imposing the death penalty.
One bill would amend military law in the occupied West Bank to mandate capital punishment for Palestinians convicted of intentional killings, while another would amend Israel’s Penal Law to authorize the death sentence for the intentional killing of Israelis in acts classified as terrorism.
According to Türk, the proposals are basically discriminatory, as they would apply only to Palestinians, many of whom are tried in military courts that fail to meet international fair trial standards.
“It is discriminating in that it will only apply to Palestinians, who will often be convicted after unfair trials,” the UN Human Rights Commissioner stated.
He restated the United Nations’ long-standing opposition to capital punishment, describing it as incompatible with human dignity and justice.
“The United Nations is strongly opposed to the death penalty in any form. It is extremely hard to justify such punishment while respecting human dignity, and there is always a risk of executing innocent people,” the UN Human Rights Commissioner noted.
Türk further warned that the proposed laws would breach Israel’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), particularly because the mandatory nature of the sentences would remove judicial discretion and directly violate the right to life.
He also cautioned against any attempt to apply the death penalty retroactively to convictions linked to attacks carried out on 7th October, 2023, emphasizing that retroactive punishment is strictly prohibited under international law.
Such measures, he noted, would constitute a serious violation of legal protections afforded to Palestinians living under occupation.
“Denying the guarantees of a fair trial to Palestinians under the Fourth Geneva Convention constitutes a war crime,” Türk warned.
He urged Israeli lawmakers to abandon the proposed amendments and instead ensure that all legal proceedings comply with international humanitarian and human rights law, emphasizing that justice systems must protect equality before the law rather than deepen divisions and discrimination.
