Israel’s new legislation is a war crime

Statements by AKEL Political Bureau member and MP G.Koukoumas:

The EU-Israel Association Agreement should be suspended

9 April 2026

AKEL MP and Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights Giorgos Koukoumas vehemently criticized the Knesset’s decision to extend the death penalty to Palestinian prisoners, during a press conference held at the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Cyprus.

Koukoumas described the legislation in question as “a direct conflict with international law and human rights,” arguing that it constitutes a serious setback for the global code of values.

As he pointed out, the decision cannot be viewed in isolation but, in AKEL’s view, is part of a broader policy framework targeting the Palestinian people, citing practices that violate international treaties and norms.

In elaborating his position, the AKEL MP outlined three key points.

First, he questioned the possibility of a fair trial under occupation, and cited figures indicating around 9,500 Palestinians are currently being held in Israeli prisons, “thousands of whom are imprisoned without trial”.

Second, he spoke of the racist dimension of this specific legislation, arguing that it is applied in practice exclusively to Palestinians, reinforcing—as he put it—a dual legal system between Palestinians and the Israeli settlers whereby Palestinians in the West Bank are subject to military rule while Israeli settlers are not.

Third, he argued that this development reflects the rise of extremist political forces within Israel, referring, among others, to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other members of the government.

At the same time, AKEL MP Giorgos Koukoumas criticized the stance of the international community, and in particular that of the European Union, citing the tolerance and inaction it has shown in the face of these developments. Furthermore, he cited the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which—as he noted—underlines the obligation of third states not to assist practices that are associated with the Israeli occupation.

In conclusion, AKEL MP Giorgos Koukoumas called on international organizations and the international community to proceed to take immediate actions for the abolition of this specific legislation, while he also addressed an appeal to the Cyprus government to make use of its role within the European Council by raising the issue of suspending the Association Agreement between the European Union and Israel.