Hundreds of Palestinians protested across the occupied West Bank against a new Israeli law. The legislation allows the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks. The UN human rights chief warned that applying this law could be a “war crime.”
Volker Turk, UN human rights chief, criticized the law as “deeply discriminatory.” He said making the death penalty the default for Palestinians violates international law. “Its application to residents of the occupied Palestinian territory would constitute a war crime,” he added.
Protests took place in cities including Ramallah, Tubas, Nablus, Jenin, and Hebron. Prisoner advocacy groups organized sit-ins at the International Committee of the Red Cross headquarters in el-Bireh. Protesters displayed photos of Palestinian prisoners who have died in custody over the years.
The demonstrations included families of prisoners, members of the Fatah party, civil society groups, trade unions, and women’s organizations.
More than 9,500 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons. This includes 350 children and 73 women. Human rights groups say detainees face torture, starvation, and poor medical care, which has caused dozens of deaths over the years.
The protests drew attention to the human rights concerns of Palestinians under Israeli detention. Activists demanded international action and condemned the new law.
The European Union voiced concern about Israel’s legislation targeting Palestinian prisoners. Observers say the law could increase tensions in the occupied territories.
The protests and international criticism highlight growing opposition to Israel’s approach to Palestinian prisoners. Activists called for protection of detainees and respect for international law.
