Eight Arab and Islamic Nations Condemn Israeli Law Allowing Death Penalty in West Bank

Eight major Arab and Islamic nations have issued a joint condemnation of the Israeli government following the enactment of a new law that permits the imposition of the death penalty in the occupied West Bank.

In a statement released on Thursday, April 2, 2026, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates described the legislation as a “dangerous escalation” specifically targeting Palestinian prisoners.

The ministers warned that the law does not exist in isolation but is part of an increasingly discriminatory system aimed at denying what they called the “inalienable rights and the very existence” of Palestinians.

“The Ministers warned against the increasingly discriminatory, escalating Israeli practices that entrench a system of apartheid and a rejectionist discourse,” the joint statement said, employing unusually sharp language to describe Israel’s administrative and legislative framework in the occupied territories.

Beyond the capital punishment law, the coalition expressed deep concern over the deteriorating conditions of Palestinians held in Israeli detention centres. Citing credible reports, the ministers highlighted what they described as systemic violations, including widespread torture, inhumane and degrading treatment, deliberate starvation, and denial of basic legal and human rights.

The group emphasised that these abuses are not isolated incidents but reflect a broader pattern of violations against the population in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Reaffirming their opposition to what they called Israel’s “racially discriminatory, oppressive, and aggressive policies,” the eight nations called on the international community to move beyond rhetoric. They stressed the urgent need for a strengthened international effort to uphold regional stability and ensure accountability for the occupying power’s provocative measures.

The statement concluded with a warning that such legislation risks further inflaming tensions on the ground and undermining any remaining prospects for regional peace, as the Israeli Knesset continues to push laws that critics say formalise a two-tiered legal system based on ethnicity.