April 1 (UPI) — The United Nations human rights chief is urging Israel to repeal its new “deeply discriminatory” death penalty law, warning that using it to execute Palestinian residents of the illegally occupied West Bank would amount to a war crime.

The appeal from U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Tuesday comes amid mounting international opposition to Israel’s newly passed bill to make execution by hanging the default sentence for Palestinians convicted of terrorism in military courts in the widely regarded illegally occupied West Bank.

“It is deeply disappointing that this bill has been approved by the Knesset,” he said in a statement Tuesday.

“Its application in a discriminatory manner would constitute an additional, particularly egregious violation of international law. Its application to residents of the occupied Palestinian territory would constitute a war crime.”

Israel’s Knesset parliament passed the Death Penalty for Terrorist Bill on Monday. Promoted by far-right lawmakers, the legislation makes the death penalty mandatory for those convicted of terror-related murder in military courts, which is where Palestinians in the West Bank are tried.

It limits the possibility of appeal, removes the option of clemency and pardon and requires the death-by-hanging sentence to be carried out within 90 days of the final verdict or 180 days if the prime minister finds special cause for a delay.

Turk said the 90-day limit is in itself a violation of international law. International human rights law requires that it provide for the opportunity for pardon.

“It’s patently inconsistent with Israel’s international law obligations, including in relation to the right of life,” Turk said.

“It raises serious concerns about due process violations, is deeply discriminatory and must be promptly repealed.”

Israel abolished the death penalty in 1954, but executions remained on the books for crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity and treason, and it was under those laws that the state executed Adolf Eichmann, one of the chief organizers of the Holocaust, in 1962.

The new law was proposed last year by far-right Israeli lawmakers amid Israel’s war in Gaza, and was moved to the Knesset last week by the National Security Committee.

On Tuesday, the European Union said Israel’s passing of the bill marked “a grave regression” from its former position of leading the region by its example of exercising a de facto moratorium on executions.

“The EU urges Israel to abide by its previous principled position and with its obligations under international law, as well as its commitment to democratic principles,” the EU said in a statement.

Israeli supporters of the bill argue it will be a deterrent against future terrorism-related crimes and will help strengthen national security.

Human Rights Watch Deputy Middle East Director Adam Coogle countered that in reality it “entrenches discrimination and a two-tiered system of justice, both hallmarks of apartheid.”

“Combined with its severe restrictions on appeals and its 90-day execution timeline, this bill aims to kill Palestinian detainees faster and with less scrutiny,” Coogle said in a statement.