Abu dhabi: The Foreign Ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Trkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have jointly condemned Israel's recent enactment of a law permitting the imposition of the death penalty in the occupied West Bank. The controversial legislation, passed by the Israeli Knesset, has been strongly criticized for its potential de facto application against Palestinians.
According to Emirates News Agency, the Ministers have warned against Israel's increasingly discriminatory practices, which they claim entrench a system of apartheid and promote a narrative that denies the fundamental rights of Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). The Ministers argue that this law represents a dangerous escalation, particularly due to its discriminatory use against Palestinian prisoners, and highlight the risk of exacerbating tensions and destabilizing the region.
The joint statement also raised concerns about the conditions faced by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention. The Ministers pointed to credible reports of ongoing abuses, such as torture, inhumane treatment, starvation, and denial of basic rights, as indicative of a broader pattern of violations against Palestinians. They reaffirmed their opposition to what they describe as Israel's racially discriminatory and aggressive policies targeting Palestinians.
Additionally, the Ministers stressed the urgent need to avoid measures that could further inflame tensions. They called for accountability and urged for enhanced international efforts to uphold regional stability and prevent further deterioration of the situation.
