ISTANBUL – Israeli parliament’s decision to impose the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners is “essentially no different from Hitler’s policies against Jews,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday, delivering one of his strongest condemnations of the controversial legislation.
“What is being done is discrimination, it is racism, it means implementing in Israel a worse version of the apartheid regime that was overthrown in South Africa in 1994,” Erdogan said at a meeting of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) Women’s Wing.
He said that imposing the death penalty only for Palestinians amounts to “apartheid” and turns law into an “instrument of racist fascism.”
The Legislation
Israel’s parliament passed the law last week making the death penalty a default sentence for Palestinians convicted in military court of deadly attacks. The measure includes provisions requiring sentencing within 90 days with no right to clemency.
Under the bill, the death penalty can be imposed without a request from the prosecution, unanimity will not be required for a death sentence, and the decision will be made by a simple majority. Military courts applying to Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank would also be able to impose the death penalty, with the defense minister having the right to submit an opinion to the judicial panel.
For Palestinians under Israeli occupation sentenced to death, the bill eliminates avenues for pardon or appeal, while those tried inside Israel could have the sentence commuted to life imprisonment.
International Condemnation
Erdogan’s comments add to growing international condemnation of the legislation. Last week, Pakistan and seven other Muslim nations — Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar — issued a joint statement strongly condemning the law.
The ministers described the legislation as “a dangerous escalation, particularly given its discriminatory application against Palestinian prisoners,” adding that “such measures risk further exacerbating tensions and undermining regional stability.”
Human rights organizations have also condemned the law, warning that it violates international humanitarian law and the Fourth Geneva Convention’s protections for civilians in occupied territories.
Analysis: A Sharp Rebuke
Erdogan’s comparison of Israel’s death penalty law to Hitler’s policies is a sharp escalation in rhetoric, even for a leader known for his strong criticism of Israeli policies. The reference to the Holocaust — the systematic murder of six million Jews — is particularly provocative and is likely to draw a strong response from Israel and its allies.
The Turkish president’s comments come amid heightened tensions in the region, with Israel engaged in a multi-front war against Iran and its proxies in Lebanon and Gaza. The death penalty legislation has become a rallying point for critics of Israeli policy, who argue that it institutionalizes discrimination against Palestinians.
As international condemnation mounts, Israel shows no sign of backing down. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has welcomed the legislation, calling it “a historic day.” Whether the law will be implemented, and whether it will face legal challenges in Israeli or international courts, remains to be seen.
