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Spain Condemns Israel’s New Death Penalty Law as Discriminatory Shift

                   Palestinians hold placards as they take part in a protest, in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has sharply criticized Israel’s newly approved death penalty law, calling it “another step towards apartheid” due to its unequal application to Palestinians convicted in military courts.  The Israeli Knesset passed the legislation mandating death by hanging as the default sentence for Palestinians found guilty of deadly attacks. Critics argue that the law’s language effectively excludes most Israeli citizens—particularly Jewish Israelis—from facing the same punishment, despite identical offenses. Sánchez emphasized the asymmetry, stating that “same crime, different punishment” undermines justice and deepens systemic inequality. His remarks come amid an already tense diplomatic rift between Spain and Israel, intensified by Spain’s condemnation of Israeli actions du...
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Blinken Embarks to Middle East for Sixth Gaza Diplomacy Push


 U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken returns to the Middle East on Wednesday for his sixth visit since the start of Israel’s war with Hamas. His mission is to facilitate discussions for a temporary ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Blinken will meet Saudi leaders in Jeddah and Egyptian leaders in Cairo to discuss talks brokered by Egypt and Qatar on an agreement, as well as efforts to get more aid into Gaza. The ongoing negotiations aim to alleviate the humanitarian crisis gripping Gaza. Additionally, Blinken will engage in conversations about arrangements for governance, security, and redevelopment in post-conflict Gaza.

The war was triggered when Hamas fighters crossed into Israel on a rampage, resulting in the loss of 1,200 lives and the capture of 253 hostages according to Israeli tallies. In response, Israel launched a retaliatory onslaught, resulting in the confirmed death of nearly 32,000 people in Hamas-run Gaza, with thousands more feared lost under the rubble.

Despite multiple visits to the U.S. ally on his previous regional swings, Blinken is not scheduled to visit Israel on this trip. Tensions have escalated between U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently rebuffed Biden’s plea to call off a planned ground assault in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than a million displaced Palestinians are sheltering.

Blinken’s diplomatic efforts continue as the international community closely watches the situation unfold in the region.

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