Four European countries urge ‘Israel’ to abandon death penalty draft law for Palestinian prisoners

BRUSSELS, March 30 (YPA) – Four European countries have called on ‘Israel’ to abandon proposed legislation that would impose the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners, expressing their concern over its repercussions.

In a joint statement, Britain, Germany, France, and Italy expressed grave concern over the approval of the bill by the Israeli Knesset’s National Security Committee.

The statement said that the proposed bill would significantly increase the likelihood of the death penalty being applied in Israel, emphasizing that this punishment is an “inhumane and degrading” form of punishment and has no deterrent effect.

“We oppose the death penalty wherever it exists and under any circumstances,” calling on decision-makers in the Knesset and the Israeli government to abandon the proposal.

The Knesset’s National Security Committee had previously approved the draft law to execute Palestinian prisoners after introducing amendments, and referred it for the second and third readings required for the final passage, according to the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation.

More than 9,300 Palestinians, including 350 children and 66 women, are held in Israeli prisons. According to Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations, detainees suffer from torture, starvation, and medical neglect, which resulted in multiple deaths in custody.

@E.Y.M