The foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jordan, Türkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have jointly condemned Israel’s passage of a law in its parliament, the Knesset, that allows the imposition of the death penalty in the occupied West Bank and its application against Palestinians.
In a joint statement, the ministers warned against what they described as “increasingly discriminatory, escalating Israeli practices that entrench a system of apartheid and a rejectionist discourse that denies the inalienable rights and the very existence of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
The ministers said the legislation “constitutes a dangerous escalation, particularly given its discriminatory application against Palestinian prisoners,” and stressed that “such measures risk further exacerbating tensions and undermining regional stability.”
From UAE to Pakistan: Eight countries unite to condemn Israel’s death penalty law for West Bank Palestinians
The ministers expressed “deep concern” over the conditions of Palestinians held in Israeli detention, citing “credible reports of ongoing abuses, including torture, inhumane and degrading treatment, starvation, and the denial of basic rights.” They said these practices “reflect a broader pattern of violations against the Palestinian people.”
The ministers reaffirmed their opposition to what they called Israel’s “racially discriminatory, oppressive, and aggressive policies targeting Palestinians” and emphasised the need for the occupying power to refrain from measures that risk “further inflaming tensions on the ground.”
They called for “strengthened international efforts to uphold stability and prevent further deterioration,” stressing the importance of ensuring accountability.
