Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated at a press conference that “laws must respect basic principles such as legality, fairness, and justice” and emphasized that “they must not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, nationality, or political stance.”
She added that “the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people must be respected and protected” and called for an end to actions that “escalate tensions and exacerbate the confrontation.”
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Beijing’s stance comes after the Israeli Parliament approved a reform that provides for the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murder motivated by terrorism, a measure rejected by several countries, the European Union, and international organizations, which consider it discriminatory. Only the United States has expressed support for Israel.
The new legislation establishes differences in its application, providing for the death penalty for Palestinians tried by military courts in the West Bank, with undefined exceptions, while, in the case of Israeli citizens, it allows for life imprisonment and imposes additional requirements for the imposition of the death penalty.
