The United Nations human rights chief has condemned Israel's newly approved death penalty law, calling it deeply discriminatory and incompatible with international law. The legislation mandates the death penalty for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank convicted by military courts of carrying out deadly attacks classified as terrorism.

Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned that applying the law in occupied Palestinian territory would constitute a war crime. He said the measure raises serious concerns about due process and creates a separate and harsher legal system for Palestinians, who are automatically tried in Israeli military courts.

Turk also expressed alarm over a separate bill proposing a special military court to prosecute crimes linked to the October 7, 2023 attack, noting it would not cover offenses committed by Israeli forces. He cautioned that such legislation would further entrench discriminatory practices and undermine fundamental principles of justice and human dignity.