Protest planned in Nicosia over Israel’s death penalty law

Activist group United for Palestine will hold a protest outside the Israeli embassy in Nicosia on Wednesday against recent legislation passed in Israel introducing the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of terrorism.

In a statement on Monday, the group said the law, passed by the Israeli Knesset on March 30, establishes capital punishment as the default sentence in such cases.

The protest is scheduled to take place at 6pm outside the embassy.

United for Palestine described the measure as ‘discriminatory’, claiming it applies to Palestinians, including those in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, while “excluding Israeli Jewish perpetrators accused of similar offences”.

The group argued that the legislation creates “clear racial separation” and alleged that it violates international humanitarian and human rights law.

It further claimed that Palestinians are often “detained without charge or trial” and that “confessions are sometimes obtained under duress, including from minors”.

The group called for the law to be repealed and urged the government to take a public position against it, criticising what it described as “growing ties between Cyprus and Israel”.

Israel’s ambassador to Cyprus, Oren Anolik, defended the policy in previous remarks to the Cyprus Mail, arguing that capital punishment is not incompatible with democratic systems.