RAMALLAH, March 23, 2026 (WAFA) – Palestinian prisoners' rights organizations issued an urgent and renewed appeal to the world's free people, calling for immediate action to stop the draft law approving on the death penalty for Palestinian detainees.
The so-called "National Security" Committee of the Knesset approved the "Execution of Prisoners" draft in its final reading shortly before midnight last night, paving the way for its submission to the Knesset plenum for ratification next week.
In a joint statement, the prisoners' rights organizations affirmed that they have sent numerous letters to international human rights bodies, foremost among them the United Nations, in addition to contacting representatives of countries and diplomatic missions, to inform them of the rapidly escalating and dangerous developments, both regarding the draft and the ongoing reality of the extermination taking place within the occupation's prisons, which have been transformed into integrated systems of systematic torture aimed at killing more Palestinian prisoners.
The groups called for the activation of universal jurisdiction to prosecute those allegedly involved in torture, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed against prisoners. They also urged the suspension of all forms of diplomatic, military, and economic cooperation with Israel until it fully complies with international law.
Additionally, they called for treating the Knesset and Israeli courts as discriminatory institutions and for their international isolation, including rejecting their membership in global parliamentary bodies. The organizations demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all Palestinian political prisoners, including ending administrative detention, dismantling the military court system, launching independent and transparent investigations into all cases of torture and deaths in custody, and ensuring full cooperation with the International Criminal Court, including the enforcement of arrest warrants against those responsible for international crimes.
They also called for granting the International Committee of the Red Cross unrestricted access to detainees and to inspect detention conditions.
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