This represents a profound shift in Israeli legislation. On Monday, the Knesset authorized the death penalty for Palestinians found guilty of killing Israeli citizens. Given the gravity of the issue, the reporter aims to move past political dramatization to focus on the facts.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed the proposal, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir marked the vote enthusiastically, donning a noose-shaped lapel pin.

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According to the new regulations, individuals convicted of carrying out lethal terrorist attacks will face the mandatory punishment of hanging.

This is applied by default within military courts, which exclusively try Palestinians from the occupied West Bank.

The legislation also concerns civilian courts, although with a provision: the perpetrator must have the declared intent to dismantle the State of Israel. Legal analysts note that this specific phrasing shields Jewish citizens from facing the same penalty.

The Palestinian Authority maintains that Israel lacks sovereignty over Palestinian territories, whereas proponents of the law argue that the state must counteract ongoing cycles of terror.

However, the question remains whether this law will effectively reduce violence.

The death penalty is prohibited throughout the European Union and all European nations except for Belarus. Countries including the UK, France, Germany, and Italy assert that this measure offers no deterrent effect and describe it as “de facto discriminatory”.

Brussels is now intervening. Euronews has obtained an exclusive draft from EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, denouncing the bill as «a serious regression». This statement reflects a pronounced shift in Europe’s stance toward Israel.

Beyond diplomatic responses, the fundamental issue lies within the law itself. When a judicial system applies two distinct standards to identical crimes, is it still just?

Watch the Euronews video in the player above for the complete report.