United for Palestine to protest Israeli death penalty law in Nicosia

The activist group United for Palestine has announced a protest scheduled for 8 April at 6 pm outside the Israeli embassy in Nicosia. The demonstration serves to condemn legislation passed by the Israeli Knesset on 30 March, which introduces the death penalty for Palestinians convicted by military courts of acts classified as terrorism. The group asserts that the law acts as an "apartheid" measure, as it applies to Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem while allegedly excluding Israeli Jewish perpetrators due to amendments in the Penal Code. United for Palestine claims that the law violates international human rights and humanitarian standards, citing concerns over detention without charge and forced confessions. The organization has called upon Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to publicly oppose the legislation and has expressed criticism regarding the strengthening of relations between Cyprus and Israel. Conversely, Israeli Ambassador to Cyprus Oren Anolik has previously stated that capital punishment is not incompatible with democratic systems. The group also claims that several European officials have noted the potential legal implications of the new measure.