HRW TO HAMAS: DON’T RESUME EXECUTIONS IN GAZA

April 6, 2010: Hamas authorities should rescind a recent announcement that they intend to resume application of the death penalty in Gaza, which has not been carried out there since 2005, Human Rights Watch said.
The death penalty, which in Gaza would be carried out by firing squad or hanging, is inherently cruel and inhuman, and the death sentences handed down by Hamas military courts violate fair trial standards, the human rights organization said in a statement.
Most of those facing capital punishment in the Strip are affiliated with Fatah or are people whom Hamas military courts have convicted of collaborating with Israel.
“We are dealing here with convictions in trials that don’t come close to meeting fair trial standards,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “Hamas authorities should not take the backward step of starting to impose the death penalty, especially when people facing execution have suffered unfair trials.”
It’s not known how many Palestinians have been sentenced to death by Hamas courts in the Gaza Strip for allegedly serving as informants for Israel. According to Human Rights Watch, Hamas-run military courts in Gaza sentenced 16 people to death in 2009 and so far this year, including eight convicted of treason.
Nine of the 16 risk imminent execution; the other seven sentences were delivered against defendants in absentia. In addition, a Hamas-run civil court sentenced a 17th man to death last year. (Sources: The Jerusalem Post, 07/04/2010)