Beirut: The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination urged Israel to immediately repeal the so-called "Death Penalty for Terrorists Law", adding that Israel should "ensure that all Palestinian detainees held in Israeli military or civilian detention are guaranteed their rights to equal treatment before the law, security of person, protection against violence or bodily harm, and access to justice."

According to Qatar News Agency, the UN Committee's statement was reported by the Palestinian news agency (WAFA), highlighting that the newly-adopted law perpetuates racial discrimination against Palestinians and represents a significant erosion of human rights. The committee expressed its alarm over the law mandating death by hanging as the default sentence for cases involving an "act of terrorism" before Israeli military courts.

The statement noted that these courts have exclusive jurisdiction over Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, while Israeli citizens and residents are specifically excluded from its application. This law signifies a severe blow to human rights, reversing Israel's long-standing de facto moratorium on executions since 1962 and expanding the use of the death penalty in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

It further highlighted that the law prohibits mitigation, commutation, or pardon of the death penalty and establishes a 90-day deadline for executions once a final judgment is rendered. The adoption of the law comes amid rising colonist violence and unlawful killings of Palestinians with impunity across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as well as ongoing violations of Palestinians' due process and fair trial rights. As of January 2026, 9,243 Palestinians were in Israeli custody, including 3,385 administrative detainees held without trial.

The committee also called on Israel to cease all policies and practices that result in racial discrimination and segregation of Palestinians. Moreover, it urged all States Parties to uphold their obligations under the Convention and ensure that their resources are not used to enforce or support discriminatory policies and practices against Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in line with the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Conciliation Commission and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.