Israel’s apartheid law legalizes executing Palestinian children

TEL AVIV, Israel (MNTV) — Israel’s Knesset has passed a controversial and genocidal law enabling the death penalty for Palestinians, including minors, sparking widespread concern over systematic abuses within the military justice system and the ongoing targeting of Palestinian civilians.

The legislation, approved on March 30, is officially known as the “Death Penalty for Terrorists” law and has been framed by far-right Israeli leaders as a necessary tool to enforce control over Palestinians.

The law mandates that executions be carried out within 90 days of sentencing, sharply limits avenues for appeal or commutation, and does not explicitly exclude children.

Human rights organizations warn that Palestinian minors, often prosecuted as adults under Israel’s military court system, could be directly affected.

Under these courts, children as young as 12 are routinely treated as adults, facing proceedings that provide minimal legal safeguards.

Reports from Defense for Children International-Palestine highlight that minors are subject to “systematic, institutionalized, and widespread ill-treatment,” including night arrests, physical abuse, threats, and coercive interrogations.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented repeated violations, emphasizing that Palestinian children are often interrogated without access to proper legal representation or family oversight.

The law resolves a long-standing political demand from Israel’s far-right leadership. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has repeatedly argued that those accused of deadly attacks “deserve death,” framing the law as a tool of domination rather than justice.

Officials have made clear that Palestinian civilians, including children, are often treated not as protected persons under international law but as potential threats.

Since October 7, 2023, Israeli genocides in Gaza has killed over 21,289 children, with more than 44,500 wounded, according to UNICEF.

In the West Bank, Israeli military raids and settler violence have continued to claim the lives of Palestinian minors. Beyond battlefield deaths, the law adds to a pattern of extrajudicial killings, assassinations, and abusive treatment in Israeli custody.

Physicians for Human Rights-Israel reports that at least 98 detainees have died in Israeli prisons since late 2023, many under conditions linked to torture, medical neglect, or abuse.

International law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, explicitly prohibits executions and cruel or inhuman treatment of minors.

Israel, however, has repeatedly disregarded these protections, treating Palestinian children as combatants and normalizing practices that erode basic human rights.

Past statements by Israeli leaders, such as former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked declaring that “the entire Palestinian people is the enemy,” including children, reflect the broader dehumanization underpinning the law.

Human rights advocates warn that the legislation is primarily about projecting power and maintaining political dominance. It is not aimed at punishment or deterrence.

US support for Israel’s military policies, including funding and political backing, has reinforced the state’s ability to enforce such measures with impunity, allowing extrajudicial violence to continue largely unchecked.

If executed under Israel’s military court system, the law could normalize the killing of Palestinian children, representing a profound breach of international norms.

Experts caution that normalization of child executions would set a precedent not even seen in historical colonial regimes, eroding protections for the most vulnerable and escalating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank.

The law highlights the ongoing risks to Palestinian civilians, particularly minors, under Israeli occupation, underscoring the urgent need for international attention and intervention to prevent further violations of human rights.