'A step closer to apartheid': Israel's death penalty for Palestinians condemned

The European Union has condemned Israel's approval of a "discriminatory" bill allowing the execution of Palestinians convicted on terror charges for deadly attacks.

"The death penalty bill in Israel is very concerning to us in the EU. This is a clear step backwards - the introduction of the death penalty, together with the discriminatory nature of the law," EU spokesman Anouar El Anouni told journalists in Brussels.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Tuesday condemned as "a step closer to apartheid" the bill passed by Israeli lawmakers.

"It is an asymmetric measure that would not apply to Israelis who committed the same crimes. Same crime, different punishment. That is not justice. It is a step closer to apartheid," Sanchez wrote on X.

Israel's parliament approved a bill on Monday that would allow the execution of Palestinians convicted on terror charges for deadly attacks, a move that has been criticised as discriminatory and immediately drew a court challenge.

Sixty-two lawmakers, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, voted in favour and 48 against the bill, championed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

There was one abstention and the rest of the lawmakers were not present.

Ben Gvir in the run-up to the vote had worn a lapel pin in the shape of a noose, symbolising his support for the legislation.

"We made history!!! We promised. We delivered," he posted on X after the vote.

The bill would make the death penalty the default punishment for Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank found guilty of intentionally carrying out deadly attacks deemed "acts of terrorism" by an Israeli military court.

The bill says that the sentence may be reduced to life imprisonment under "special circumstances".

Palestinians in the West Bank are automatically tried in Israeli military courts.