Israel's Knesset Advances Death Penalty Bill

Israel’s Knesset approved a death penalty law for Palestinians convicted of “terrorism” on April 1, 2026, prompting international condemnation and protests across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, according to officials and regional governments.

Eight countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkiye, denounced the legislation as discriminatory and said it could deepen what they described as an apartheid system. The European Union called the move a “step backwards.” United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Volker Turk said that applying the measure in occupied Palestinian territory could amount to a war crime.

In response, a general strike was reported across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, alongside demonstrations in Ramallah, Nablus, and Hebron. The protests unfolded as security and political tensions remained elevated in and around Jerusalem, including at sites that are central to multiple faiths.

Officials said the Al-Aqsa Mosque had been closed to Muslim worshippers for more than a month, while a state of emergency was extended until mid-April. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Al-Aqsa compound under the protection of Israeli forces, according to the account provided. Restrictions were also reported at Christian sites during Holy Week, including at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Separately, the source material described stalled efforts related to Gaza’s reconstruction and a transition in governance. Hamas told mediators in Cairo that talks on disarmament would not move forward unless Israel stopped what Hamas described as ceasefire violations and agreed to a full withdrawal from Gaza.

Funding commitments for Gaza’s reconstruction from Gulf Arab states were described as frozen, with the pause attributed to the US-Israel conflict with Iran. At the same time, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza were reported to have intensified.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said that since the October 11 ceasefire, at least 723 Palestinians had been killed and 1,990 injured. The figures were presented as cumulative totals since that date, and no independent verification was provided in the source material.