GENEVA: The United Nations rights chief on Wednesday called on Israel to repeal a newly established special military tribunal to try Palestinians accused of taking part in Hamas’ Oct 7 raid.

Israel’s parliament passed a law establishing the tribunal, with the authority to hand down the death penalty, late on Monday.

The special court is set to try attackers captured during or after the raid. It will also try those suspected of holding prisoners in Gaza. According to Israeli media, around 400 suspects are expected to stand trial before the court.

“There must be full accountability for these horrific attacks, but this cannot be achieved through trials that fall short of international standards,” Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement. “This law must be overturned,” he said.

“This law will inevitably institutionalise one-sided justice and discrimination against Palestinians, which cannot be in anyone’s interest and runs counter to international human rights law,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2026