China urged the protection of Palestinian rights after Israel passed a law allowing the death penalty. The move targets Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks in the occupied West Bank. The law has drawn international criticism and heightened regional tensions.
The Israeli parliament approved the bill on Monday, mandating the death penalty for Palestinians convicted by military courts of deadly attacks labeled “terrorism.” China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said legal rights must be respected and protected. She also called on parties to avoid actions that escalate conflict.
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Mao emphasized that laws should uphold principles of equality, justice, and non-discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, nationality, or political views. Her remarks avoided naming Israel directly but clearly addressed global concern over the legislation. Analysts note that the law could further inflame tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The bill has drawn condemnation from the United Nations, which called its application a potential war crime. Several Muslim-majority countries, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Qatar, Turkiye, and the UAE, issued a joint statement criticizing the law as discriminatory and destabilizing for the region.
Read more: Death penalty law for Palestinians risks setting dangerous precedent
While the European Union also opposed the bill, the United States voiced support for Israel’s sovereign right to determine its own laws. International observers warn that implementing the death penalty could spark wider unrest and further complicate peace efforts.