Heads of Mission of EU, Switzerland and Norway in Jerusalem and Ramallah Issue Statement on the Execution of Three Prisoners in Gaza

Jerusalem, 14/04/2017 – 23:09 – UNIQUE ID: 170415_1

Arabic: العربية

The European Union Representative, the EU Heads of Mission and the Heads of Mission of Switzerland and Norway in Jerusalem and Ramallah issue the following statement:

The Missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah strongly condemn the execution of three prisoners in Gaza on 6 April 2017. The prisoners had previously been sentenced by a military court in Gaza.

The Missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah recall their firm opposition under all circumstances to the use of capital punishment. The EU, Switzerland and Norway consider that abolition of the death penalty contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and the progressive development of human rights. The EU, Switzerland and Norway consider capital punishment to be cruel and inhuman, that it fails to provide deterrence to criminal behaviour, and represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity.

The de facto authorities in Gaza must stop all executions and death sentences should be frozen in compliance with the moratorium on executions put in place by the Palestinian Authority, pending abolition of the death penalty in line with the global trend.