Tim lawsonHamas executions to continue in Gaza
April 28th 2010 06:37
Earlier this month, Hamas authorities executed two Palestinian men in the Gaza Strip for collaborating with Israel. Despite intense international scrutiny and condemnation from both Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups, Hamas authorities have stated that they will not hesitate to impose the death penalty on other collaborators.
According to an article published on the pro-Palestinian website ‘Electronic Intifada (EI), the two men were executed by firing squad and their bullet-riddled bodies were delivered to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The AFP news agency also stated that Samir Zakut, from the Palestinian human rights group Al-Misan said they were executed by firing squad before dawn. General Ahmad Attallah, Hamas’s head of judicial military affairs, confirmed the executions on an official government website.
Hamas, which is an acronym of the Arabic words meaning ‘Islamic Resistance Movement’, is a political party with a paramilitary component, they are perceived as a terrorist organisation by the U.S, the European Union, Canada, Israel and Japan: Australia only classifies Hamas' independent military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, as a terrorist organization. In the Palestinian territories, especially the Gaza Strip, Hamas has gained favour with the Palestinian people for their massive contribution to social welfare. Israeli scholar Reuvan Paz has stated “approximately 90 percent of the organisations work is in social, welfare, cultural and educational activities.”
Hamas legitimately won the Palestinian elections in 2006. This sparked an ongoing civil war with rival Palestinian political party, Fatah. The hostilities eventuated in Hamas controlling the Gaza Strip and Fatah controlling the West Bank.
Hamas military courts in Gaza accused Nasser Abu Frej, 34, from Rafah, southern Gaza and Muhammad al-Sebea, 36, from northern Gaza, of passing sensitive security information to Israel during the Gaza War which took place between Israel and Hamas during December, 2008 and January, 2009. The information was deemed responsible for the deaths of several Gazan resistance fighters.
These executions are the first implementation of the death penalty since Hamas took complete control of Gaza in June, 2007. Disregarding intense international condemnations of the killings, de facto interior minister Fathi Hammad said that his government “would not hesitate” to carry out further executions. He also stated that “The Hamas government will continue enforcing capital punishment in the coastal enclave against those who have caused harm to national interests and who were the cause of the death of many Palestinians.”
Israeli human rights group B’Tselem was heavily against the executions, stating "In addition to objection in principle to the death penalty, Thursday's executions were based on trials that did not meet even minimal standards of due process."
Human Rights Watch (HRW) member Bill van Esveld has expressed concerns over ‘the lack of transparency, due process and impartiality.” Stating, “We see Fatah members being sentenced to death in Hamas courts.”
Hamas Soldiers
According to an article published on the pro-Palestinian website ‘Electronic Intifada (EI), the two men were executed by firing squad and their bullet-riddled bodies were delivered to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The AFP news agency also stated that Samir Zakut, from the Palestinian human rights group Al-Misan said they were executed by firing squad before dawn. General Ahmad Attallah, Hamas’s head of judicial military affairs, confirmed the executions on an official government website.
Hamas, which is an acronym of the Arabic words meaning ‘Islamic Resistance Movement’, is a political party with a paramilitary component, they are perceived as a terrorist organisation by the U.S, the European Union, Canada, Israel and Japan: Australia only classifies Hamas' independent military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, as a terrorist organization. In the Palestinian territories, especially the Gaza Strip, Hamas has gained favour with the Palestinian people for their massive contribution to social welfare. Israeli scholar Reuvan Paz has stated “approximately 90 percent of the organisations work is in social, welfare, cultural and educational activities.”
Hamas legitimately won the Palestinian elections in 2006. This sparked an ongoing civil war with rival Palestinian political party, Fatah. The hostilities eventuated in Hamas controlling the Gaza Strip and Fatah controlling the West Bank.
Hamas military courts in Gaza accused Nasser Abu Frej, 34, from Rafah, southern Gaza and Muhammad al-Sebea, 36, from northern Gaza, of passing sensitive security information to Israel during the Gaza War which took place between Israel and Hamas during December, 2008 and January, 2009. The information was deemed responsible for the deaths of several Gazan resistance fighters.
These executions are the first implementation of the death penalty since Hamas took complete control of Gaza in June, 2007. Disregarding intense international condemnations of the killings, de facto interior minister Fathi Hammad said that his government “would not hesitate” to carry out further executions. He also stated that “The Hamas government will continue enforcing capital punishment in the coastal enclave against those who have caused harm to national interests and who were the cause of the death of many Palestinians.”
Israeli human rights group B’Tselem was heavily against the executions, stating "In addition to objection in principle to the death penalty, Thursday's executions were based on trials that did not meet even minimal standards of due process."
Human Rights Watch (HRW) member Bill van Esveld has expressed concerns over ‘the lack of transparency, due process and impartiality.” Stating, “We see Fatah members being sentenced to death in Hamas courts.”
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