Mohamed El-Nady: The Decision to Execute Palestinian Prisoners Is a Fully Constituted Legislative Crime

Geopolitical expert Mohamed El-Nady, Secretary-General for Education at the Egypt 2000 Party, stated that the decision issued by the Israeli Knesset to approve the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners constitutes a fully constituted legislative crime and a blatant violation of all rules of international humanitarian law and relevant international human rights conventions. He stressed that this approach reflects a dangerous deviation toward legitimizing killing outside the framework of justice.

El-Nady added that this legislation cannot be regarded as merely an internal legal measure; rather, it represents a systematic attempt to provide legal cover for practices that violate the most basic humanitarian principles. He noted that it clearly exposes the nature of the aggressive policies pursued by the occupation, in complete disregard of legal and moral standards, thereby threatening to inflame the situation in the region and push it toward further escalation and instability.
In his statement, El-Nady explained that this decision constitutes a clear breach of the Geneva Conventions, particularly Article 100 of the Third Geneva Convention, which imposes strict restrictions on the application of the death penalty against prisoners of war and requires the consent of the prisoner’s home state—a condition not observed by the occupation authorities—rendering this legislation invalid under international law.
He pointed out that targeting Palestinian prisoners—who are supposed to enjoy special legal and humanitarian protection—sets an extremely dangerous precedent and constitutes a grave violation of the right to life, one of the most sacred rights guaranteed by international laws and conventions. He emphasized that this approach undermines the fundamental guarantees of a fair trial and disregards the principles of justice.
El-Nady stressed that the most dangerous aspect of this decision lies in its discriminatory nature, as it selectively reintroduces the death penalty against Palestinians, despite its abolition for Israeli citizens since 1954. This, he said, entrenches policies of racial discrimination and reflects a clear double standard in the application of justice, in contradiction with established humanitarian and legal principles.
He further warned that including so-called “terrorism crimes” among the justifications for applying the death penalty opens the door to broad interpretations that could be used to criminalize legitimate resistance, granting the occupation authorities wide latitude to expand repression and turning the law into a political tool of deterrence rather than a means of achieving justice.
El-Nady affirmed that the repercussions of this decision will not be limited to the legal dimension, but will extend to political and security aspects as well. It is likely to intensify tensions in the Palestinian territories and fuel anger and resentment, potentially leading to an uncontrollable escalation and undermining the prospects for a just and comprehensive political solution.
He praised the positions of Egyptian state institutions, foremost among them the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Al-Azhar, for condemning this dangerous trend, noting that these positions reflect Egypt’s longstanding principles in supporting the Palestinian cause and rejecting all violations affecting the rights of the Palestinian people.
He also stressed that the silence of the international community toward such decisions represents an unjustified failure and opens the door to further violations, warning that the continuation of this approach undermines the international justice system and weakens confidence in its ability to protect human rights in conflict zones.
El-Nady called on the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities by taking decisive positions to halt this legislation, holding those responsible accountable, and ensuring the necessary protection for Palestinian prisoners in accordance with international legitimacy.
He concluded by emphasizing that respect for international law and human rights principles remains the only path to achieving stability in the region, reaffirming Egypt’s leadership and people’s support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people—foremost among them the establishment of an independent state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital—and the need to halt all escalatory policies that undermine the prospects for peace and drive further tension.