Hamas sentences 5 to death for collaborating with Israel

An Islamic Hamas movement military court in the Gaza Strip decided on Tuesday the execution of five Palestinians convicted for being collaborators with Israel.

An official from the Hamas-run judiciary said on condition of anonymity that the permanent military court under Gaza military judiciary issued a death sentence of the five in which three will be hung and two will be shot.

The five collaborators were charged for watching leaders of Palestinian military factions and sending related information to Israel that led to the assassination of some of them, the official said.

The Hamas-run interior ministry announced last month that three Palestinians, convicted for first-degree murder, were executed in Gaza.

Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007 following weeks of internal fighting with security forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah Party.

Hamas has been executing Palestinians without getting Abbas' approval since the beginning of the internal split, which goes against the Palestinian basic law demanding the approval of president of the Palestinian National Authority on death penalties. 
Source:XINHUA