Islamic nations slam Israel over new law amid Middle East Conflict

New Delhi: Amidst the ongoing Middle East conflict involving Iran, several Islamic nations have criticised Israel. Eight major Islamic countries—including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Indonesia—have sharply criticized a new Israeli law. On Thursday, the foreign ministers of these nations issued a joint statement describing a bill that provides for the death penalty for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank as a threat to 'regional stability'.

What is the criticism of the law?

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates stated that this legislation constitutes a dangerous escalation, particularly given its potential for discriminatory application against Palestinian prisoners. The statement emphasized that such measures could further exacerbate tensions and undermine regional stability.

The joint statement strongly condemned the implementation of this law by the Israeli occupying authorities. The ministers warned that this move would fuel discrimination against Palestinians and entrench an apartheid-like system. However, most of these nations criticizing the law themselves utilize the death penalty domestically. Notably, Saudi Arabia executed a record 356 people in 2025—a figure considered to be a new record.

When did Israel Pass the Law?

In fact, Israel's parliament (the Knesset) passed this controversial legislation late Monday night. Under this law, Palestinians found guilty in military courts in the West Bank of carrying out deadly attacks classified as "acts of terrorism" face the death penalty as the default sentence. The United Nations and the European Union have also criticized this legislation, while the United States has affirmed Israel's sovereign right to enact its own laws.

According to the new law, Palestinians residing in the West Bank are tried in military courts; consequently, this framework establishes a distinct and harsher legal pathway specifically for them. Meanwhile, in Israeli civilian courts, individuals convicted of murder committed with the intent to deny the existence of the state could face sentences of death or life imprisonment.

It is worth noting that Israel has imposed the death penalty only twice to date: in 1948, on a military officer charged with treason, and in 1962, on the Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann. The new law will apply to the West Bank, which has been under Israeli occupation since 1967. Since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, there has been a massive surge in violence in the region, which subsequently triggered the war in Gaza.