McEntee Urges EU Action Over Israel's Death Penalty Law

Ireland, in concert with Spain and Slovenia, has formally called upon the European Union to take decisive action against Israel concerning a new law that mandates the death penalty for Palestinians accused of carrying out attacks against Israelis. This joint initiative underscores a growing concern among some EU member states regarding Israel's recent legislative actions and their implications for international law and human rights.

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fully comply with its international and moral obligations

In a strongly worded joint letter, Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee, alongside her Spanish and Slovene counterparts, has implored Kaja Kallas, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to address the issue at an upcoming meeting of EU foreign ministers. The ministers contend that repeated appeals to Israel to "fully comply with its international and moral obligations" have been disregarded. The recent approval of the death penalty law by the Knesset is cited as a "grave violation of fundamental human rights" and a regression from Israel's supposed commitment to democratic principles, thereby constituting a breach of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

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The latest example is the approval of the death penalty by the Israeli Parliament. [Which is] not only a grave violation of fundamental human rights, but also a step backwards in Israel’s commitment to democratic principles, as underlined by your 31 March statement, and therefore a violation of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

The joint letter highlights that the law, which makes death by hanging the default sentence for such offenses, is not an isolated incident but rather "an additional step in the systematic persecution, oppression, violence and discrimination exerted against the Palestinian population." The signatories emphasize the EU's "moral and political responsibility" to defend the core values underpinning the European project, asserting that respect for human rights must remain paramount in all EU actions and relationships with partners.

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The bill passed by the Israeli Parliament constitutes an additional step in the systematic persecution, oppression, violence and discrimination exerted against the Palestinian population.

This call for EU action is informed by previous assessments, including a 2025 review of Israel's conduct during the Gaza War, which found that Israel was "likely" in breach of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. The ministers argue that Israel's recent actions, including an attack on Lebanon, "further aggravate an already critical situation," particularly in Gaza, where conditions are described as unbearable due to continuous ceasefire violations. The EU, they insist, "can no longer remain silent or inactive in the face of such breaches" if it is to maintain its own credibility and principled coherence.

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In such a grave situation, we call on the European Union to uphold its moral and political responsibility, and to defend the very core values that have underpinned the European project since its foundation.