Jakarta slams Israeli death penalty law as “gross violation”

Indonesia has condemned a newly adopted Israeli law introducing the death penalty for Palestinians, joining a growing number of countries criticising the measure.

According to Al Jazeera, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the law applies the death penalty to Palestinians but not to Israeli Jews accused of the same crimes.

“Such a policy is unacceptable and undermines the sense of justice as well as universal humanitarian values,” the ministry said in a statement posted on social media.

The statement further described the law as “a gross violation of international human rights norms and humanitarian law,” specifically citing the Fourth Geneva Convention and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantee the right to life and the right to a fair trial.

The criticism follows the passage of the legislation in Israel’s parliament during a plenary session on Monday evening. The bill, which introduces the death penalty for terrorism-related offences, was approved by 62 lawmakers, opposed by 48, with one abstention.

By Tamilla Hasanova