Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Tuesday denounced a newly approved Israeli law introducing the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks as a ‘step towards apartheid’.
Under the new law, passed in parliament late Monday, Palestinians in the West Bank convicted by military courts of carrying out deadly attacks classified as ‘terrorism’ will face the death penalty as a default sentence.
‘The Government of Spain condemns the death penalty against Palestinians that Israel’s parliament has just approved,’ Sánchez — one of the most outspoken pro-Palestinian voices among Western leaders — wrote on X.
‘This is an asymmetric measure that would not be applied to Israelis who committed the same offences. Same crime, different penalty. That is not justice. It is one more step toward apartheid. The world cannot remain silent.’
The term apartheid refers to the system of institutionalised racial segregation enforced by South Africa’s white minority governments during the latter half of the 20th century.
Several other countries have also reacted strongly to the legislation, which was passed by Israel’s parliament on Monday.
In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the foreign ministers of Australia, Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom had voiced their ‘deep concern’ over the bill and warned of its ‘de facto discriminatory character’.
‘We express our deep concern about a bill that would significantly expand the possibilities to impose the death penalty in Israel and that could be voted into law next week,’ the statement read. ‘We are particularly worried about the de facto discriminatory character of the bill. The adoption of this bill would risk undermining Israel’s commitments with regards to democratic principles.’
‘The death penalty is an inhumane and degrading form of punishment without any deterring effect. This is why we oppose the death penalty, whatever the circumstances around the world. The rejection of the death penalty is a fundamental value that unites us. We urge the Israeli decision makers in Knesset and Government to abandon these plans.’
Spain has been embroiled in a diplomatic standoff with Israel since Madrid’s sharp criticism of the Israeli government during the Gaza war, which it labelled as genocide. Israel’s officials have called Spain’s stance antisemitic on several occasions. ALSO READ: Spain asks to join South Africa’s case at UN court accusing Israel of genocide.
The rift worsened this month after Spain’s opposition to the US.-Israel attacks on Iran, leading Madrid to permanently withdraw its ambassador to Israel on 11 March. ALSO READ: Spain formally dismisses its ambassador to Israel, deepening diplomatic rift.
On Monday, Israel’s parliament passed the law making death by hanging a default sentence for Palestinians convicted in military courts of deadly attacks, fulfilling a pledge by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right allies.
Critics argue that the law primarily targets Israel’s 20% Arab minority, many of whom identify as Palestinians, while exempting Jewish citizens.
Israel abolished the death penalty for murder in 1954. The only person executed in Israel after a civilian trial was Adolf Eichmann, an architect of the Nazi Holocaust, in 1962.
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El Gobierno de España condena la pena de muerte contra palestinos que acaba de aprobar el parlamento de Israel. Se trata de una medida asimétrica que no se aplicaría a los israelíes que cometieran los mismos delitos.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) March 31, 2026
Mismo crimen, distinta pena.
Eso no es justicia. Es un…
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