death penalty objections are too little, too late

The UK government joined France, Germany, and Italy in issuing a statement expressing their “deep concern” ahead of Israel’s decision to default to the death penalty for Palestinians charged with fatal crimes. This horrifying bill, which passed by 62 to 48, will undoubtedly further the extermination of Palestinians. The Israeli Occupation Army’s (IOF’s) entirely biased military courts apply these convictions, leaving powerless defendants with almost no access to justice.

The joint statement from Western nations read:

We, the Foreign Ministers of Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom, express our deep concern about a bill that would significantly expand the possibilities to impose the death penalty in Israel and that could be voted into law next week. We are particularly worried about the de facto discriminatory character of the bill. The adoption of this bill would risk undermining Israel’s commitments with regards to democratic principles.

The death penalty is an inhumane and degrading form of punishment without any deterring effect. 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.

We urge the Israeli decision makers in Knesset and Government to abandon these plans.

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While Western opposition to the death penalty is welcome and aligns with international law, those who drafted the statement shamefully couldn’t bring themselves to even mention Palestinians. Since this law applies exclusively to Palestinians, while Israeli citizens remain exempt, such erasure is not just negligent – it is contemptible. And, it makes the UK, Germany, France, and Italy entirely complicit in the erasure of Palestinians that is central to genocide.

Israel – Western complicity

For decades, these Western governments have enabled Netanyahu’s administration through political, military, and diplomatic support. This unqualified support came despite mounting, indisputable evidence that Israel’s policies amount to a system of apartheid and genocide.

As such, it’s hard to take messages of opposition remotely seriously:

After all, Palestinians have been illegally murdered for years now – why would the legalisation of Israel’s genocidal policy change anything?

Israel receive condemnation

Military officials and other Israeli ministers have also raised concerns that this law violates international law. They further add that applying this law could expose Israeli officials to arrest abroad under warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Furthermore, Israel’s leading civil rights group, the Association for Civil Rights, have reportedly filed an appeal against the law with the Supreme Court saying the law is:

an act of institutionalised discrimination and racist violence against Palestinians.

Israel’s Supreme Court of Israel could still strike down this law, potentially curbing the most extremist and violent acts of Zionism. Yet whether it takes the form of so-called “polite” Zionism or outright violence, all versions undermine the rights of indigenous Palestinians.

Many have come out decrying the cruel and illegal punishment, with the UN Human Rights for Palestine underscoring the UN’s opposition to the death penalty “under all circumstances”:

Lawyer Jessica Simor has also pointed out the sick rhetoric being purposefully deployed by those who still wish to protect Israel from accountability:

UN representative Mohamad Safa pointed out the international laws that are contravened by this sadistic law:

Amnesty International has condemned Israel using the death penalty as “part of the system of apartheid, genocide and occupation” imposed on Palestinians:

‘Justice’ delivered by an illegal occupier

We reported on the atrocious odds stacked against Palestinians in Israeli military courts, which conveniently see a 99.7% conviction rate. The impossible conviction rate alone highlights the unlikely justice to be found, making the court little more than a “place of transition“.

We wrote:

The trials usually last about 10 minutes and the testimony of an Israeli soldier is enough to secure a conviction.

Adding:

The odds of a fair trial are stacked against Palestinians. They’re conducted in Hebrew and the poor translations do little to help Palestinians understand what is happening or even what they’re accused of. So each trial essentially boils down to plea bargaining. The Palestinian defendant pleads guilty to get a lesser sentence.

The likelihood that Israeli forces and prosecutors will manufacture crimes whilst pressuring Palestinians to plead guilty is practically a certainty. As ever the Israeli government haven’t shied away from making their intentions clear. The annihilation of Palestinians has always been their ultimate goal.

As these X posts highlight:

One X user commented:

Zionist Knesset deputy grinning with noose and lethal injection while her husband flaunts occupation, expulsion, and settlements. Pure sadistic bloodlust against Palestinians! Israel’s far-right monsters reveal their true genocidal face.

These are human beings

Citizens across the UK have been horrified as they watch their leaders attempt to shield and defend Israel whilst it conducts the indefensible. This has led to the murder of hundreds of thousands of men, women, children, and babies, while the rest of the world watches the genocide unfold on livestream.

It’s clear the statement from these Western leaders is mere lip service to recognise their legal commitments to oppose the imposition of death penalties. After all, they clearly fail to recognise the complexities and nuances unique to Palestinian people living under occupation, showing that they miss much of the gravity of the issue.

Enforcing a death penalty against a population of captive people, living for decades under oppression and brutality, is another method of state-mandated genocide.

Featured image via the Canary