Catholics-Call_IS-Death-Penalty_PRESS-RELEASE_April-2026

Catholic Leaders and Organisations Call to Protect Palestinian Life under Occupation In Response to Israel’s Death Penalty Expansion Bill

April 1st

We, Catholic leaders and organisations committed to justice, peace, and the dignity of every human person, express our grave concern and unequivocal moral objection to the recent legislation expanding the use of the death penalty, particularly its application in the context of prolonged occupation¹.

This measure cannot be viewed in isolation or only as a legal matter². It must be understood against the reality of the ongoing occupation of Palestinian territory and the persistent denial of the Palestinian people’s fundamental right to self-determination³. Any legal framework imposed in such a context carries profound moral and legal implications, especially when it concerns the irreversible taking of human life.

The  legislation represents a deeply troubling and historic shift. By introducing and normalising the death penalty within military courts operating in occupied territory, it institutionalises a system of state-sanctioned killing on discriminatory grounds. The fact that Israeli citizens are excluded from these provisions highlights the inequity and discrimination inherent in this law. In the context of ongoing allegations of genocide, if intent is proven, a law designed specifically to target specifically Palestinians could constitute an act of genocide, being a part of a wider pattern of genocidal conduct in violation of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide⁴.

We are particularly alarmed by provisions that limit judicial discretion, restrict access to legal counsel, and accelerate the implementation of executions. Within a military court system already widely criticised for its lack of safeguards, such measures risk facilitating grave miscarriages of justice. These courts have a high conviction rate of 96%⁵, often relying on confessions obtained under coercive conditions, intensify fears that innocent lives may be irreversibly lost.

For Palestinians living under occupation, this legislation introduces urgent and existential threats to life and security. It contributes to an environment of fear and vulnerability, where legal protections are weakened and the possibility of redress is severely curtailed. Rather than advancing justice, such measures risk entrenching cycles of violence and injustice. As of March 2026, there are approximately 9446 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, many of whom are detained without trial or due process, who are now facing heightened risk under this bill⁶.

From the perspective of Catholic social teaching⁷, the use of the death penalty is inadmissible. It violates the dignity of the human person and undermines the moral responsibility of societies to protect life, even in the face of grave wrongdoing. This principle applies universally and without exception.

We therefore call for the urgent protection of Palestinian life and rights. This demands that all people and institutions act in solidarity, respecting due process, equal treatment under the law, and international human rights standards in occupied territories. The right to self-determination is sacred and must be upheld.

We call upon: 

• States with political, economic, or military relations with Israel to review and suspend forms of cooperation that contribute to violations of Palestinian rights and ensure that any future or ongoing agreements are strictly conditional upon respect for international law, the protection of Palestinian life, and the safeguarding of human dignity in the occupied Palestinian territory.

• European Union institutions and member states to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement (EU-IAA) until Israel demonstrates full respect for Palestinian life, equal access to justice, and adherence to international humanitarian law in accordance with art.2 of such agreement.
• States and international partners to prioritise the protection of human rights organisations, civil society actors, and lawyers providing support to Palestinians, ensuring they can operate without intimidation, harassment, or obstruction.
• Diplomatic actors and international partners to coordinate pressure aimed at preventing executions and safeguarding legal protections for Palestinians under occupation, including the right to access independent legal representation.
• International institutions and states to support accountability mechanisms addressing violations arising from this legislation, ensuring that Palestinians can live in safety and dignity, free from discriminatory practices and threats to life.
• Catholic community to stand in solidarity with Palestinians under occupation, accompanying them in their struggle for life, dignity, and justice, and bearing witness against the expansion of the death penalty.

At this critical juncture, we reaffirm our commitment to nonviolence and justice. We stand in solidarity with those whose lives are placed at risk and call for renewed efforts towards a just and lasting peace grounded in human dignity.

Signatories:

Catholic Leaders

1. Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, Pax Christi International Co-president, Philippines
2. Sr. Teresia Wamuyu Wachira, Pax Christi International Co-president, Kenya
3. H.E. Michel Sabbah, former Pax Christi International President, Palestine
4. Archbishop Paul Martin SM Archbishop of Wellington New Zealand, New Zealand
5. Bishop Stephen Lowe, President New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, Bishop of Auckland, New Zealand
6. Most Reverend William Nolan, Archbishop of Glasgow, Scotland
7. Right Reverend Brian McGee, Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, Scotland
8. Right Reverend James Curry , UK – England
9. Br. Jacek Orzechowski O.F.M., USA
10. Fr. Adolfo R. Mercado, ofm, USA
11. Fr. Caille Michel, Franciscan chaplain for Pax Christi, France
12. Fr. Errol Vivek Dominik Fernandes SJ, Chaplain, Shrine of the Infant Jesus, Nashik Road, Society of Jesus, India
13. Fr. Frazer Mascarenhas S.J., Social Justice and Ecology Commission, Bombay Jesuits, India
14. Fr. Gianparide Nappi , GPIC Animator, Salerno-Lucania Province, OFM Italy
15. Fr. Iacopo Iadarola, O.C.D., Theologian & Discalced Carmelite, Italy
16. Fr. Ivan Montelongo, Diocese of El Paso, USA
17. Fr. John Heagle, Chair, Priests Against Genocide, USA
18. Fr. Kevin Mullen, O.F.M., Guardian, Siena University Friary, USA
19. Fr. Magloire Nkounga Tagne, Parish Saint Eustachio Martire , Italy
20. Fr. Paul Lansu, Pax Christi Internatial + Parish priest in Antwerp, Belgium
21. Fr. PM Tony, Director Jesuit Social Centre, India
22. Fr. Santhanam Arockiasamy, S.J., Advocate, Legal Action and Advocacy Services (LAAS), Madurai, India
23. Rev. Daniele Battaglion, Parish Priest, Pieve Emanuele, Archdiocese of Milan, Italy
24. Rev. Dr. John Kennedy, Priest, SJ Education Coordinator, Society of Jesus, India
25. Rev. Duane Pribula, Catholic priest (semi-retired, active), St. Joseph Catholic Church, USA
26. Rev. Lawrence Bernard, Chaplain to the Poor Clare Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe, USA
27. Rev. Pietro Rossini, Missionary Priest, Xaverian Missionaries, Italy
28. Rev. Philippe de Kergorlay, Chelles Parish Priest, France
29. Rev. Stephen Josoma, Saint Susanna Parish- Dedham, MA, USA
30. Roberto Jaramillo, S.J. Director of the Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat, Italy
31. Sr. Anne Christine, Principal, Carmel Girls’ Central College, Sri Lanka
32. Sr. Barbara Battista, S.P., Justice Promoter, Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, USA
33. Sr. Carol De Angelo, S.C., Director, Office of Peace, Justice and Integrity of Creation, Sisters of Charity of New York, USA
34. Sr. Estela Gomez, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Leadership Team, Latin America & Caribbean Mercy Network, Argentina
35. Sr. Leonilla Menezes, Principal, St. Ann’s College of Education, Mangalore, India
36. Sr. Linda Donovan MM, Coordinator Maryknoll Sisters Ecuador – Peru – Chile, Chile
37. Sr. Maria Aradhana A.C, Secretary General Apostolic Carmel Generalate, India
38. Sr. Maria Nirmalini, A.C., Superior General, Congregation of the Apostolic Carmel, Former President, Conference of Religious India, India
39. Sr. Maria Diksha, A.C., Provincial Superior, India
40. Sr Maria Rashmi, College Principal, Patna Women’s College, India
41. Sr. Maureen Hanahoe, M.M., Maryknoll Sister, USA
42. Sr. Jennifer D’Silva A.C., Religious Sister, India
43. Sr. Josephine Dubiel, Congregational Leader, Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, Australia
44. Sr Katrina Alton, National Chaplain to Pax Christi England & Wales, England and Wales
45. Sr Patricia L. Ryan, Maryknoll Sister, Director Human Rights and Environment (DHUMA), Peru
46. Sr. Nichola Emmanuel, Sisters of charity, Sri Lanka
47. Sr. Susan Wanja Muthoni, Second Councillor of the East Africa Region, Apostolic Carmel Sisters, Kenya
48. Arsène Brice Bado, Deputy Director Institute of Dignity and Human Rights at the Research and Action Center for Peace (CERAP), Ivory Coast
49. Amalia Fumagalli, President, ACLI Circle of Novate Milanese, Italy
50. Andrea Calloni, Director Coordinator of Catholic Action for Children Zone II, Italy
51. Cornily Karine and Mazoyer Denis, Co-presidents of Catholic Workers’ Action, France
52. Dr. Dominiek Lootens, Director, Centre for Dialogue, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
53. Nicola Colasuonno, Rector of the Shrine of Saint Guido Conforti, Parma, Italy

Catholic Organisations

1. Pax Christi International, International
2. Arab Educational Institute – Pax Christi Bethlehem, Palestine
3. Caritas Ambrosiana, Italy
4. Caritas Internationalis, Vatican City
5. Caritas Maroc, Morocco
6. Caritas Middle East and North Africa, MENA region
7. Catholic Action for Children, France
8. Catholic Workers’ Action, France
9. Center for Research and Popular Education (CINEP), Colombia
10. Churches and Mining Network, Ecuador
11. CIDSE – International Family of Catholic Social Justice Organisations, International
12. Commission for the Prophetic Voice in Latin America and the Caribbean, Argentina
13. Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Region, USA
14. Coventry Justice and Peace Group, UK
15. Human Rights and Environment (DHUMA), Peru
16. Development and Peace – Caritas Canada, Canada
17. Franciscan Peace Center, Clinton, Iowa, USA
18. Franciscans International, Switzerland
19. Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Loreto Generalate, International
20. Jesuit Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat (SJES), Italy
21. Justice et Paix France, France
22. Kairos Italia, Italy
23. Leadership Conference of Women Religious, USA
24. Legal Action Advocacy Services-LAAS, India
25. Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers , Peru
26. Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, USA
27. Mercedarian Missionaries of Berriz, Japan
28. National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd , USA
29. National Justice and Peace Network, England and Wales
30. Pax Christi Aotearoa New Zealand, New Zealand
31. Pax Christi England & Wales, England and Wales
32. Pax Christi Flanders, Belgium
33. Pax Christi France, France
34. Pax Christi Germany, Germany
35. Pax Christi Italia , Italy
36. Pax Christi Korea, South Korea
37. Pax Christi New York State, USA
38. Pax Christi Scotland , Scotland
39. Pax Christi USA, USA
40. Pax Christi Whangarei, New Zealand
41. Poor Clare Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe ,USA
42. Priests Against Genocide, USA, USA
43. Quixote Center, USA
44. Reach Education Action Program (REAP), India
45. REGCHAG – Ecclesial Network of the Gran Chaco and Guaraní Aquifer (REGCHAG), Argentina – Paraguay – Uruguay – Bolivia
46. Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team, USA
47. Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Indiana, USA
48. Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa, USA

¹. “Israel: Discriminatory Death Penalty Bill Passes’, Human Rights Watch, March 30th 2026, https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/03/31/israel-discriminatory-death-penalty-bill-passes
². “Kairos Palestine II A Moment of Truth: Faith in a Time of Genocide”, Kairos Palestine, November 14th 2025, https://www.kairospalestine.ps/index.php/about-kairos/kairos-palestine-ii;“Israel/OPT: Newly adopted death penalty law must be repealed”, Amnesty International, March 20th 2026, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/03/israel-opt-newly-adopted-death-penalty-law-must-be-repealed/
³. “UNRWA chief ‘appalled’ by Israel’s ‘extraordinarily discriminatory’ death penalty law”, Beyza Binnur Donmez for Anadolu Agency, March 30th 2026, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/unrwa-chief-appalled-by-israels-extraordinarily-discriminatory-death-penalty-law/3886177
⁴. United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, 1948, https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-prevention-and-punishment-crime-genocide
⁵. Israel turning execution of Palestinians into official state policy”, B’Tselem, March 30th 2026, https://www.btselem.org/press_releases/20260330_israel_turning_execution_of_palestinians_into_official_state_policy
⁶. “Israel turning execution of Palestinians into official state policy”, B’Tselem, March 30th 2026, https://www.btselem.org/press_releases/20260330_israel_turning_execution_of_palestinians_into_official_state_policy
⁷. Catechism of the Catholic Church, https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P7Z.HTM;
Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti of The Holy Father Francis on Fraternity and Social Friendship, October 2020, https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html