BRUSSELS : The European Commission issued a sharp rebuke of the legislation, with spokesman Anwar Al-Anouni describing it as “a clear step backwards,” citing both its expansion of capital punishment and its “discriminatory nature.”

The criticism follows the approval of the bill by Knesset’s National Security Committee in its final reading last week. The proposed law would significantly broaden the scope for imposing the death penalty, particularly against Palestinian prisoners.

Earlier, the foreign ministers of Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom expressed “grave concern” over the bill. In a joint statement released by the German Foreign Ministry, they warned that the legislation’s “effectively discriminatory nature” could undermine Israel’s commitment to democratic values.

European signatories further cautioned that adopting such a law risks eroding established legal and ethical standards, raising broader concerns about human rights protections in the region.

Meanwhile, Palestinian leaders and institutions have strongly opposed the move. Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative Movement, accused Israel of exploiting global distraction over regional tensions to intensify violations in Palestinian territories. He alleged ongoing abuses, including killings and mistreatment of detainees, alongside efforts to push the execution bill forward.

Barghouti called for renewed Arab and international mobilisation to support Palestinians and expose what he described as escalating violations, stressing that resilience among Palestinians remains key to confronting such measures.

Palestinian prisoners’ advocacy groups have also issued an urgent appeal to international actors, including the United Nations, urging immediate intervention to halt the bill. In a joint statement, the organizations highlighted what they described as “rapid and dangerous developments,” both in terms of the proposed law and conditions within Israeli prisons.

They further criticised what they termed international inaction and complicity, arguing that the lack of decisive response has enabled continued escalation. The groups demanded the unconditional release of all Palestinian political prisoners, an end to administrative detention policies, and the dismantling of the military court system.

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