Today in Focus Israel passes law to give death penalty to Palestinians – The Latest
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Mar 31, 2026 
Devika Bhat, deputy head of international news at The Guardian, explains the Knesset’s new law imposing the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of fatal attacks. She outlines how the law works, risks to due process and military trials. She also discusses celebrations in parliament, international criticism, legal challenges and limits on outside pressure.
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Death Penalty Becomes Default For West Bank Cases
- Israel's new law effectively makes the death penalty the default for Palestinians convicted in the West Bank military courts.
- The law targets crimes deemed threats to Israel's existence and will mainly apply to Palestinians tried under military jurisdiction, not Israeli civilians.
Law Criticised As Institutionalised Discrimination
- Human rights groups warn the law is discriminatory because it will in practice apply almost exclusively to Palestinians detained under military law.
- Although Israeli civil courts could technically impose it, the law's clause about threats to the state's existence ensures disproportionate impact on Palestinians.
Ben-Gvir Celebrated With Champagne And Noose Badges
- Inside the Knesset, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir celebrated the bill, brandishing champagne and wearing a lapel pin shaped like a noose.
- Those scenes included distribution of noose badges and public social media posts proclaiming "we've made history."