In response to the Israeli Knesset’s March 30 vote to expand the use of the death penalty, specifically in occupied Palestinian territories, Pax Christi International issued the following statement, which has been endorsed by almost 20 other Catholic organizations including Pax Christi USA.
Catholic leaders and authorized representatives of Catholic organizations are welcome to sign the document until April 8, 10 AM Brussels time [4 AM Eastern/1 AM Pacific], using this link.
1 April 2026, Brussels
We, Catholic leaders and organisations committed to justice, peace, and the dignity of every human person, express our grave concern and unequivocal moral objection to the recent legislation expanding the use of the death penalty, particularly its application in the context of prolonged occupation1.
This measure cannot be viewed in isolation or only as a legal matter2. It must be understood against the reality of the ongoing occupation of Palestinian territory and the persistent denial of the Palestinian people’s fundamental right to self-determination3. Any legal framework imposed in such a context carries profound moral and legal implications, especially when it concerns the irreversible taking of human life.
The legislation represents a deeply troubling and historic shift. By introducing and normalising the death penalty within military courts operating in occupied territory, it institutionalises a system of state-sanctioned killing on discriminatory grounds. The fact that Israeli citizens are excluded from these provisions highlights the inequity and discrimination inherent in this law. In the context of ongoing allegations of genocide, if intent is proven, a law designed specifically to target specifically Palestinians could constitute an act of genocide, being a part of a wider pattern of genocidal conduct in violation of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide4.
We are particularly alarmed by provisions that limit judicial discretion, restrict access to legal counsel, and accelerate the implementation of executions. Within a military court system already widely criticised for its lack of safeguards, such measures risk facilitating grave miscarriages of justice. These courts have a high conviction rate of 96 percent5, often relying on confessions obtained under coercive conditions, intensify fears that innocent lives may be irreversibly lost.
For Palestinians living under occupation, this legislation introduces urgent and existential threats to life and security. It contributes to an environment of fear and vulnerability, where legal protections are weakened and the possibility of redress is severely curtailed. Rather than advancing justice, such measures risk entrenching cycles of violence and injustice. As of March 2026, there are approximately 9,446 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, many of whom are detained without trial or due process, who are now facing heightened risk under this bill6.
From the perspective of Catholic social teaching7, the use of the death penalty is inadmissible. It violates the dignity of the human person and undermines the moral responsibility of societies to protect life, even in the face of grave wrongdoing. This principle applies universally and without exception.
We therefore call for the urgent protection of Palestinian life and rights. This demands that all people and institutions act in solidarity, respecting due process, equal treatment under the law, and international human rights standards in occupied territories. The right to self-determination is sacred and must be upheld.
We call upon:
- States with political, economic, or military relations with Israel to review and suspend forms of cooperation that contribute to violations of Palestinian rights and ensure that any future or ongoing agreements are strictly conditional upon respect for international law, the protection of Palestinian life, and the safeguarding of human dignity in the occupied Palestinian territory.
- European Union institutions and member states to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement (EU-IAA) until Israel demonstrates full respect for Palestinian life, equal access to justice, and adherence to international humanitarian law in accordance with art.2 of such agreement.
- States and international partners to prioritise the protection of human rights organisations, civil society actors, and lawyers providing support to Palestinians, ensuring they can operate without intimidation, harassment, or obstruction.
- Diplomatic actors and international partners to coordinate pressure aimed at preventing executions and safeguarding legal protections for Palestinians under occupation, including the right to access independent legal representation.
- International institutions and states to support accountability mechanisms addressing violations arising from this legislation, ensuring that Palestinians can live in safety and dignity, free from discriminatory practices and threats to life.
- Catholic community to stand in solidarity with Palestinians under occupation, accompanying them in their struggle for life, dignity, and justice, and bearing witness against the expansion of the death penalty.
At this critical juncture, we reaffirm our commitment to nonviolence and justice. We stand in solidarity with those whose lives are placed at risk and call for renewed efforts towards a just and lasting peace grounded in human dignity.
Catholic leaders and authorized representatives of Catholic organizations are welcome to sign the document until April 8, 10 AM Brussels time [4 AM Eastern/1 AM Pacific], using this link.
- “Israel: Discriminatory Death Penalty Bill Passes’, Human Rights Watch, March 30th 2026, https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/03/31/israel-discriminatory-death-penalty-bill-passes ↩︎
- “Kairos Palestine II A Moment of Truth: Faith in a Time of Genocide”, Kairos Palestine, November 14th 2025, https://www.kairospalestine.ps/index.php/about-kairos/kairos-palestine-ii;“Israel/OPT: Newly adopted death penalty law must be repealed”, Amnesty International, March 20th 2026, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/03/israel-opt-newly-adopted-death-penalty-law-must-be-repealed/ ↩︎
- “UNRWA chief ‘appalled’ by Israel’s ‘extraordinarily discriminatory’ death penalty law”, Beyza Binnur Donmez for Anadolu Agency, March 30th 2026, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/unrwa-chief-appalled-by-israels-extraordinarily-discriminatory-death-penalty-law/3886177 ↩︎
- United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, 1948, https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-prevention-and-punishment-crime-genocide ↩︎
- Israel turning execution of Palestinians into official state policy”, B’Tselem, March 30th 2026, https://www.btselem.org/press_releases/20260330_israel_turning_execution_of_palestinians_into_official_state_policy ↩︎
- “Israel turning execution of Palestinians into official state policy”, B’Tselem, March 30th 2026, https://www.btselem.org/press_releases/20260330_israel_turning_execution_of_palestinians_into_official_state_policy ↩︎
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P7Z.HTM;
Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti of The Holy Father Francis on Fraternity and Social Friendship, October 2020, https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html ↩︎
May the God of justice bring peace, respect and safety to all whose rights to life are in jeopardy.