Montreal, March 30, 2026 — Today, the Israeli Knesset voted in favour of a law that mandates the death penalty – by hanging – for Palestinian prisoners convicted of certain crimes by military courts in the occupied West Bank. Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) urges the Canadian government to condemn this apartheid law, which applies to Palestinians but not Jewish Israelis convicted of identical crimes, and sever all military and security coordination with Israel.
“With Israel’s occupation courts boasting a 99% conviction rate, this discriminatory law opens the door to mass executions against an occupied population,” said Yara Shoufani, President of CJPME. “Israel is an illegal occupying power with no jurisdiction over the West Bank. Palestinians tried in these military courts are already denied any semblance of justice, but are persecuted by kangaroo courts. This new law turns those courts into means of extermination.”
The measure passed with 62 votes in favour – including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – and 47 against. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a leading proponent of the bill, reportedly attended the vote wearing a pin depicting a noose, underscoring the genocidal nature of this legislation. “That the noose is being used as a symbol for this bill is an affirmation that this new law is nothing more than state-sponsored lynching,” added Shoufani.
Just last month, United Nations experts called on Israel to withdraw the bill, a sentiment which has been echoed by human rights organizations including Amnesty International and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel. The governments of Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, most recently expressed concern over the legislation, something which Canada has failed to do thus far.
“As of today, Israel is holding over 10,000 Palestinian prisoners in its prisons, including Palestinians abducted by Israel from Gaza, and over 3,400 held in administrative detention – meaning without charge or trial. By escalating the killing of this captive population, this new law will be an extension of Israel’s genocide,” said Shoufani.