A new Israeli law mandating the execution of Palestinians convicted of certain offences has drawn condemnation from the UN and human rights groups.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has urged Israel to repeal legislation legalising the hanging of Palestinians convicted of terrorism-related killing of Israelis – a law critics contend will not apply to Israelis who commit similar crimes.

The law  passed by the Israeli Knesset states that Palestinians must be hanged within 90 days if convicted of nationalistic killings in a military court. While the legislation does not allow pardons, it gives judges discretionary power when it comes to sentencing Israeli citizens convicted of similar crimes, and observers say it’s highly unlikely that any Israeli would ever be hanged under the law.

Palestinians and their defenders have also warned that the law could open the door to mass executions, including of anyone found to have killed Israelis during the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack, for........

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