Gaza Herald – On Tuesday, the European Union expressed its categorical opposition to the death penalty under any circumstances, warning of the dangerous implications of the Israeli Knesset’s recent law allowing executions of Palestinian detainees.
In a statement issued by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, the bloc emphasized that Israel had long maintained a de facto moratorium on executions.
The approval of this law, she noted, represents a serious regression from that practice and from Israel’s previous commitments.
The EU voiced deep concern over the discriminatory nature of the legislation and urged Israel to comply with international law and democratic principles, in line with the provisions of the EU-Israel Partnership Agreement.
The statement reaffirmed that the death penalty constitutes a clear violation of the right to life and cannot be implemented without infringing the absolute prohibitions against torture or cruel treatment, while also highlighting the lack of evidence that capital punishment serves as an effective deterrent.
