Several countries have voiced strong condemnation of Israel's passing of the bill mandating the death penalty for terrorists on Monday.
In a joint statement released on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministers of Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom expressed their "deep concern" over the bill.
"The death penalty is an inhumane and degrading form of punishment without any deterring effect," the statement read. "This is why we oppose the death penalty, whatever the circumstances around the world. The rejection of the death penalty is a fundamental value that unites us."
The statement also raised the issue of the bill's "de facto discriminatory character."
The Foreign Ministers of other European countries, including the Netherlands and Sweden, promoted and reiterated the joint statement against Israel's death penalty bill in posts on X/Twitter.
Spanish PM labels death penalty bill 'step toward apartheid'
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also responded to the bill on Tuesday, calling its passing "one more step toward apartheid."
"It is an asymmetrical measure that would not apply to Israelis committing the same crimes. Same crime, different punishment," Sanchez wrote on X/Twitter, adding "The world cannot remain silent."
The European External Action Service (EEAS), the diplomatic service of the European Union, called the approval of the bill "a grave step backward."
"The EU encourages Israel to abide by its previous principled position, with its obligations under international law, as well as its commitment to democratic principles, as reflected also in the provisions of the EU-Israel Association Agreement," the EEAS stated.
The UN rights chief also urged Israel to repeal the bill, saying the legislation violated international humanitarian law.
"It raises serious concerns about due process violations, is deeply discriminatory, and must be promptly repealed," Volker Turk said in a statement sent to reporters.
He said the law was inconsistent with Israel's legal obligations, citing the lack of opportunity for pardon and ordering executions to be carried out within 90 days.
Israelis petition against new death penalty law
A petition filed to the Israeli High Court of Justice on Tuesday by Adalah, a Palestinian human rights legal center based in Haifa, argues that the law creates a discriminatory dual-track system: one in civilian Israeli law and another in military law, with the West Bank provisions aimed at Palestinians alone.
Adalah’s filing, submitted on behalf of the organization, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, HaMoked, Gisha, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, and MKs Aida Touma-Sliman (Hadash), Ahmad Tibi (Ta’al), and Ayman Odeh (Hadash), frames the statute as both unconstitutional and unlawful under international law.
A similar petition was also filed on Monday night by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI).
Sarah Ben-Nun contributed to this report.