Israel Reinstates Hanging for Palestinian Attackers

0:00It's March 31st. This is Global News Today, driven by AI tracking the world in real time. Israel's parliament just passed a new law, making deaths by hanging the default punishment for Palestinians convicted in military courts of deadly attacks. This happened on Monday, fulfilling a promise from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners. The move marks a big shift, as Israel had stuck to life sentences for such cases before. Now, judges in those courts can opt for hanging unless they choose otherwise. The European Union is calling this very concerning. A commissioned spokesperson labelled it a clear step backwards and urged Israel to stick to international law and its democratic commitments. Officials aren't speculating on any EU response yet, but they're watching closely amid rising tensions. This development highlights ongoing strains in the region, and we'll keep tracking how it plays out.