EU DENOUNCES LATEST DEATH SENTENCE ISSUED IN GAZA

April 13, 2016: The European Union Missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah condemned the latest death sentence issued in the Gaza Strip.
The latest death sentence was handed out by a civil court in the besieged Palestinian territory on April 12.
According to the EU, this is the fifth death sentence issued in Gaza this year, seemingly doubling the pace of death sentences from 2015, when the Gaza government issued its fifth death penalty verdict of the year in August.
“The authorities in Gaza must refrain from carrying out any executions of prisoners and comply with the moratorium on executions put in place by the Palestinian Authority, pending abolition of the death penalty in line with the global trend,” the EU said in a statement.
“The EU Missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah recall the EU's firm opposition under all circumstances to the use of capital punishment,” it added. “It considers capital punishment to be cruel and inhuman, that it fails to provide deterrence to criminal behavior, and represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity.”
Under Palestinian law, willful, premeditated murder and treason as well as collaboration with the enemy -- usually Israel -- are punishable by death. (Sources: maannews.com, 14/04/2016)