Kuwait city: The 'National Security' committee within the Israeli parliament, commonly known as the Knesset, has given the green light to a draft law concerning the execution of Palestinian prisoners. This development sets the stage for the bill to be presented to the General Assembly for its initial reading.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the approval of the bill was reported by Israeli media following a committee session conducted on Sunday. This move comes despite reported opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The session's approval is a significant step toward the potential enactment of the controversial legislation.
In response, the Palestinian Prisoners Club and the Commission of Detainees Affairs have voiced strong opposition. The organizations issued a joint statement asserting that the ratification of this law underscores the Israeli occupation's disregard for international law, which criminalizes the death penalty. The statement emphasized that the draft law represents an extension of a repressive legislative system that has long targeted Palestinians, particularly prisoners and detainees.
The legislation was initially proposed in 2022 by extremist occupation government minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. It has since undergone amendments, leading to its approval by the Knesset in 2023. The bill is now poised for its first reading, a crucial step towards its potential final approval by a special committee.