Indonesia Condemns Israel's New Law: Violation of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. (VOI/Fauzi)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government strongly condemns the enactment of a new Israeli law approved by the Knesset that imposes the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners, considering it a serious violation of human rights (HR) and humanitarian law.

A controversial bill that targets the death penalty for Palestinians found guilty of killing Israelis in terror attacks, still exempts Israeli Jews who kill in similar cases, was passed on Tuesday 31.

After debating for 12 hours, the law was approved by 62-48 votes in the election.

"The Government of the Republic of Indonesia strongly condemns the approval by the Israeli Knesset of a law imposing the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners," the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote in a post on the X social media, Wednesday (1/4).

"This policy is unacceptable and hurts the sense of justice and universal human values," continued the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The law is a serious violation of human rights law and international humanitarian law, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention, as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which guarantees the right to life and the right to a fair trial," the tweet said.

As previously reported, the latest version of the bill before it was passed into law stipulates that in military courts that try Palestinians from the occupied West Bank, which is the standard sentence for the murder of Israeli citizens in acts of terror, is the death penalty, quoted from the Financial Review.

The law also allows for sentences based on majority decisions, not unanimous decisions, by military courts, and requires executions to be carried out within 90 days of the final verdict. Alternative sentences of life imprisonment can only be imposed in "special" circumstances that are not specified.

In Israeli courts, which try Israelis, including Palestinians in Israel, the death penalty will only apply in cases where the killing is carried out with the intent to "deny the existence of the State of Israel" - a clause that critics say means that the sentence will not apply to Jewish Israelis.

Judges in this court can also choose whether to impose the death penalty or life imprisonment. The execution will be carried out by hanging.

"The Indonesian government urges Israel to immediately repeal the law and stop all actions that are contrary to international law, as well as to guarantee protection of the basic rights of the Palestinian people, including prisoners," urged the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Indonesia also calls on the international community, especially the United Nations, to take firm steps to ensure accountability and protection for the Palestinian people," he continued.

"Indonesia reiterates its full support for the Palestinian people's struggle to achieve independence with East Jerusalem as its capital," the post concluded.