[Blog] Opprobrium on Apartheid Israel

By Rama Valayden, Senior Counsel

Israel has passed another discriminatory law which will put to shame the then apartheid regime of South Africa. The new law will allow the execution of Palestinians convicted on terror charges for deadly attacks but not the Jewish extremists accused with similar crimes.

Israel will therefore increase its list of discriminatory laws against the Palestinians.

The new death penalty law will also apply to the residents of the occupied Palestinians territory (West Bank – Gaza – Golan Heights and tomorrow the occupied part of Lebanon up to Litani River).

The new discriminatory law is in gross violation of international and Israel’s obligations. It will destroy the right to life of the Palestinians who are already suffering from the genocide of Israel.

The new death penalty would constitute a war crime.

Will Mauritius condone the passing of that new legislation? Will European Union act or will they resort only to brief cosmetic action?

All human rights groups around the world are condemning that hanging legislation since it was passed on Monday 30th March 2026 by the KNESSET.

One person who deserves our admiration and support is Pedro Sanchez, Spanish Prime Minister, who wrote on X: “It is an asymmetric measure that would not apply to Israelis who committed the same crimes, different punishment. That is not justice. It is a step closer to apartheid. Who will judge the Palestinians? Not the Civil Court but a Military Court. According to that sordid legislation, those sentenced to death, would be held in a separate facility with no visits except those authorized by the military and legal consultations conducted only by video link.

And executions would be carried out within (underlining is mine) 90 days of sentencing meaning that a Palestinian can be executed one day or even less after sentencing.

Israel has rarely used the death penalty and has applied it only in exceptional cases like they did against the Nazi: War Criminal, Adolf EICHMENN in 1962.

The fascist national security minister, Etamar Ben Guir, is one of the strongest backers of the hanging act and even wore a noose-shaped lapel pin during the debate.

It is apposite to note that the hanging act will allow Courts to impose the death penalty even without a request from the Prosecutors and without requiring unanimity among the military judges and in occupied territory. An opinion from the defence minister will be conclusive evidence, without latter being subjected to any form of cross-examination.

We must be clear that the death penalty is irreversible and the aim of the Israelis are to kill Palestinians detainees faster and virtually with no scrutiny.

Do you know that Israel has more than 9000 Palestinians in its jails – Many unlawfully and subject to inhumane conditions, starvation and torture as constant state policy.

But we know also Israel that there are human rights groups like the association for civil rights in Israel which is appealing to the Israeli Supreme Court to strike down that legislation on constitutional grounds.

The hanging act is overtly racist and should be condemned by all human rights lovers across the world.

Do you know that the actual defence minister of Israel had previous convictions for far-right terrorism was seen brandishing a champagne after the passing of the hanging bill?

This is the first time that Israel has passed a legislation that is deliberately against Palestinians.

Another Israeli rightly group “Jesh Din” stated in a study that the conviction rates of Palestinians who are found guilty in the West Bank are nearly 93 % and for the Israelis the conviction rates are only 3 %.

And if these figures are not discriminatory, I don’t know what discrimination means…

May these fascists living in Israel be politically eliminated forever…

May God listen to my prayers!