Milan protest condemns Israeli death penalty law for Palestinian prisoners

People holding Palestinian flags and banners gathered in Piazza Duomo and walked together to a protest against the Israeli law proposing the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners in Milan, Italy, on April 2, 2026. Demonstrators marched through the city center, voicing opposition to the legislation passed by the Knesset on March 30.

International reaction

The Milan protest is part of broader international condemnation of the law. The European Union has voiced "strong concern," calling the move a "clear step backwards" on human rights. Türkiye condemned the law as part of Israel's "apartheid regime," and Palestinian factions rejected it as "fascist and vengeful."

Law details

The Knesset passed the law with 62 votes in favor, making the death penalty the default punishment for Palestinians convicted of lethal attacks against Israelis. The law applies to military courts handling Palestinian cases in the occupied West Bank and bars appeals once a death sentence is issued. Critics note the law applies only when the victim is Israeli, not when a Palestinian is killed by an Israeli, making it explicitly discriminatory.

Conflict context

The protest comes amid ongoing regional escalation following the US-Israeli offensive on Iran that began Feb. 28, which has killed over 1,340 people in Iran. Israel has also expanded military operations in Lebanon, where over 1,300 have been killed since March 2, and continues daily ceasefire violations in Gaza.