European Capitals, March 31 (QNA) - The Israeli parliament's (Knesset) passing of a law on Monday approving the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners received European condemnations.

In a statement on Tuesday, Spokesperson for the European Commission Anouar El Anouni described it as a clear step backward, both in terms of adopting the death penalty and the discriminatory nature of the law.

Meanwhile, the German government also condemned the law and reaffirmed Germany's firm rejection of the death penalty, noting that this law would most likely be applied exclusively to Palestinians in the Palestinian territories.

For his part, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez posted on X expressing his government's condemnation of the law, describing it as one step further towards apartheid.

Sanchez added that the law is an asymmetrical measure, which will not be applied to Israelis who commit the same crimes, stressing that the world cannot remain silent.

On the eve of the law's approval, Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom had issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the legislation, which expands the use of the death penalty, calling on Israeli decision-makers to abandon the bill. (QNA)