Jerusalem: The Israeli parliament's (Knesset) passing of a law on Monday approving the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners received European condemnations.

According to Qatar News Agency, Spokesperson for the European Commission Anouar El Anouni described it as a clear step backward, both in terms of adopting the death penalty and the discriminatory nature of the law. The European Commission's statement reflects the broader concerns within Europe about the implications of such a legal move on human rights and international relations.

The German government also condemned the law, reaffirming Germany's firm rejection of the death penalty. The German authorities noted that this law would most likely be applied exclusively to Palestinians in the Palestinian territories, which raises concerns about inequality and fairness in its application.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez added his voice to the condemnation, posting on X his government's disapproval of the law. He described it as one step further towards apartheid. Sanchez emphasized that the law is an asymmetrical measure, which will not be applied to Israelis who commit the same crimes, stressing the importance of global awareness and response to such legislative actions.

On the eve of the law's approval, Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom had issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the legislation, which expands the use of the death penalty. They called on Israeli decision-makers to abandon the bill, highlighting the potential repercussions on international relations and peace efforts in the region.