In a harrowing shift from its historical stance on the death penalty, Israel is on the brink of reinstating the punishment, targeting Palestinian prisoners that has already endured decades of oppression. This potential policy change marks a new chapter in the nation’s long history of human rights violations.

Israel’s decision to consider the death penalty is a drastic departure from its 1954 abolition of capital punishment. For decades, the state resorted to imposing long-term imprisonment, often extending to hundreds of years, as an alternative to execution. The proposed legislation, requiring three parliamentary readings to be enacted, signals a chilling escalation in the state’s punitive measures against the Palestinian population.

Since the onset of its occupation, Israel has detained over 800,000 Palestinians, including women and children, many for non-violent acts of resistance. The conditions in Israel’s prisons are notoriously dire. Recent reports indicate that over 600 Palestinian prisoners suffer from various diseases, with 126 battling chronic illnesses, including 26 cancer cases. The prisons, characterised by poor hygiene, overcrowding, and a lack of basic amenities, have become breeding grounds for disease. The prisoners’ reluctance to report illnesses, stemming from a deliberate policy of medical negligence and lengthy treatment procedures, exacerbates their suffering.

Disturbing Statistics and Administrative Detention

Since 2000, more than 12,000 Palestinian children have been detained, often for minor offenses like stone-throwing, punishable by up to 20 years under Israeli military law. In 2021, Israel’s military arrested nearly 8,000 Palestinian civilians, including more than 1,300 minors and 184 women. The state issued over 1,500 administrative detention orders, allowing for the detention of civilians without charge or trial. As of April 2022, 4,450 Palestinians were imprisoned, with 530 held without charge or trial.

The Question of Justice and Fairness

Given the violent and inhumane treatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, the fairness and justice of the proposed death penalty are highly questionable. The systematic approach to minority prisoners suggests a broader strategy of oppression rather than a legitimate pursuit of justice. Human rights groups describe the prison system as a mechanism designed to “liquidate and kill,” raising serious concerns about the state’s intentions.

The Role of the International Community

The international community, particularly in the West, has a crucial role in opposing these draconian measures. Public awareness, diplomatic pressure, and support for human rights organisations are vital in challenging Israel’s actions. Global citizens must understand the gravity of the situation and advocate for the rights of the oppressed Palestinian population in Israel.

The potential reinstatement of the death penalty in Israel is a grave reminder of the ongoing struggle for human rights and dignity. The international community must stand in solidarity with the Palestinians and work tirelessly to oppose any laws that further endanger their lives and freedoms. The path to justice is long and arduous, but it is a journey that we must undertake to ensure a fair and humane world for all.

Israel’s consideration of reinstating the death penalty, particularly for Palestinians while exempting its own citizens, is a glaring example of discriminatory justice that undermines the principles of equality and human rights. Such a policy not only contravenes international human rights standards but also perpetuates a dangerous precedent of legal inequality.

It’s crucial to recognise that mere awareness-raising, protesting, and boycotting, while essential, are not sufficient in isolation to effect systemic change. To truly challenge and prevent the implementation of such unjust laws, a more proactive and sustained approach is required. This involves actively participating in the democratic process, ensuring we vote for representatives who genuinely prioritise human rights and hold them accountable to their promises.

Continuous lobbying and communication with Members of Parliament are vital to exert pressure and remind them of their responsibilities. Without such concerted efforts, there is a risk of these egregious laws being overlooked, allowing systematic genocides and human rights violations to persist unchecked.

Neutrality, or staying ‘outside’ of the argument, can seem like the safest option in a world where opinions are becoming more and more divisive. After all, why risk anything for those who are being assaulted if one is not being attacked or oppressed oneself? However, this mindset, which seeks to protect itself by closing itself off from the world’s problems, will do more harm than good in the long run.

There is a reason why Muslims are obligated by their faith to oppose oppression and injustice no matter the consequences. There is a reason why we should not be neutral in the face of conflict, oppression, and injustice. And there’s a good reason for Muslims everywhere to hold fast to the conviction that we must do everything in our power to seek, defend, and facilitate justice in the modern world.

“O you who believe, be upright for God, and be bearers of witness with justice!” [Quran, 5:8]

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