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Anti-Israel protests in the Gaza Strip in 2021
Photo: Ashraf Amra / ZUMA Wire / IMAGO
A military court run by the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip has sentenced two men to death for collaborating with Israel.
The two 43 and 30-year-old men are to be hanged, the court announced on Sunday.
The men had been accused of "communicating with hostile parties."
They allegedly passed on sensitive and accurate information that led to the killing of militant Palestinians by Israel.
Most recently, the ruling Hamas in the Gaza Strip carried out death sentences in 2016.
At that time, the organization had three convicted murderers executed.
Since then, death sentences have been imposed but not carried out.
Shortly before the last executions, Hamas MPs approved a new ordinance on the death penalty in the Gaza Strip.
This contradicted the previous practice, according to which all death sentences of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah in the West Bank had to be approved.
Human rights defenders condemn court decision
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights condemned the current court decision.
"It is not the appropriate means to achieve justice or to deter someone from such crimes, but rather an inhuman method," it said in a statement.
However, the human rights activists condemned any cooperation with Israel.
Hamas forcibly seized power in the Gaza Strip in 2007.
Israel then tightened a blockade of the coastal area, which is supported by Egypt.
Both states justify the measure with security interests.
Israel, the EU and the USA classify Hamas as a terrorist organization.
According to information from international aid organizations, the roughly two million Palestinians in the coastal area live in difficult conditions.
There is a lack of drinking water and electricity.
mfh / dpa