JERUSALEM (JTA) — Hamas reportedly executed two Palestinians in Gaza convicted of collaborating with Israel.
The men, convicted by a Gaza military court of treason for passing information to Israel, were executed Thursday morning by a firing squad, according to reports.
Reportedly it is the first execution in Gaza since Hamas took control of the coastal strip three years ago. They are the first executions in Gaza since 2005, according to the Palestinian Ma’an news agency.
Under Palestinian law, executions can only be carried out by authorization of the president. Thursday’s executions, which were not approved by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, are a Hamas challenge to Abbas’ authority, Reuters reported.
Palestinian human rights groups in Gaza and the West Bank had appealed to Hamas not to carry out the executions.
