Gaza court sentences drug dealer to 10 years

A court in Gaza on Tuesday sentenced a man convicted of dealing marijuana to 10 years. Judge Ziauddin Madhoun, who presided over the case, said the punishment for drug dealing must be severe to act as a deterrent to others, a court statement said. In Gaza, the death penalty can be issued for a second conviction for drug dealing. "Possession of drug and trafficking it is considered one of the serious crimes as it constitutes danger to youth, limits their effectiveness, and breaks their bonds with family and society which leads afterward to social destruction," the judge said.