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Last update - 19:27 31/05/2008 Rights group to Hamas: Probe abductions of 'collaborators' By Reuters Tags: Islamic Jihad, Collaborator  Human Rights Watch has urged Hamas to investigate the abduction and alleged torture of three Palestinians in Gaza by an Islamist militant group that accused them of spying for Israel. The three were seized on May 20 by Islamic Jihad, which said they had helped the Israel Defense Forces kill several militants, including one of its leaders. After making taped confessions , the men were handed over to the Hamas-run Interior Ministry for prosecution. A ministry spokesman, Ehab al-Ghsain, said the detainees bore signs of torture. Islamic Jihad denied having abused them. Advertisement The New York-based rights group issued a statement on Friday calling on Hamas, which took over Gaza a year ago after routing the forces of Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, to exercise sole responsibility for law enforcement. "An armed group like [Islamic Jihad's] al-Quds Brigades has no legal right to arrest, detain or interrogate suspects," said Joe Stork, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Middle East and North Africa division. "The Hamas authorities in Gaza, who control the governing institutions there, have a duty to prosecute those responsible for these abductions and apparent use of torture," Stork said. Hamas should charge the three suspected spies "with a recognizable criminal offence and try them in accordance with international standards" or free them, Human Rights Watch added. Ghsain said Hamas had rebuked Islamic Jihad over the abductions, but no legal action against the group was planned. "There were marks of torture [on the suspects] and we expressed our displeasure to Islamic Jihad and told them what happened must not be repeated," he said. "We have warned all parties against carrying out such act in isolation from the official agencies." Islamic Jihad, which like Hamas has carried out many attacks against Israel but lacks Hamas's political profile, defended its actions. "While we fight the Israeli occupation we must fight collaborators who endanger the lives of leaders and society in general," said Daoud Shehab, the group's spokesman. "We have acted legally and fairly," he said. "The three collaborators were not tortured by any means and they gave full confessions of their own free will." Several suspected spies for Israel have received death sentences in Palestinian courts and dozens of others have been executed by armed militants in Gaza and the West Bank. The phenomenon has been condemned internationally. Ghsain said the three detainees were being interrogated by Hamas authorities and could be prosecuted if convicted. Dozens of suspected spies are in Gazan prisons awaiting trial, he said. Related articles: Fatah kills suspected collaborator with Israel in West Bank hospital Palestinian court sentences accused collaborator to death Islamic Jihad: Cease-fire agreement conditioned on lifting of Gaza siege Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bad immigrant Hezbollah spy said he acted as a 'Lebanese patriot and a Muslim.' When (he's) in Rome Israel to launch PR campaign against Ahmadinejad visit to UN summit in Rome.   1.   Look for NO international outcry, the double standard again 20:22  |  Doc Holliday 31/05/08   2.   Oxymoron - Hamas and Human Rights? 20:27  |  Middle Aged Observer 31/05/08   3.   Israel bashers at HRW finally got this one right 20:57  |  spade 31/05/08   4.   Dutch? Durson? Clickfool? Your silence condemns you 01:46  |  Joe Sittizen 01/06/08   5.   Like asking a garbage dump to do a sanitary inspection! 02:07  |  Chaim 01/06/08   6.   Desmond , did you ask about ? 05:49  |  TOMY 01/06/08   7.   dutch, durson, silvienne, your comments please 07:41  |  Adrian de Klerk 01/06/08

Read & React Barak and Olmert delay cabinet vote on Gaza Strip cease-fire Responses: 22 Released Hezbollah spy: I acted as a Muslim and a patriot' Responses: 26 Israel urges EU: Show 'caution' in contacts with Damascus Responses: 15 Olmert: I won't block primaries; Kadima seeks early vote Responses: 13 Obama quits his church over pastor's racially charged views Responses: 5 Rosner's Domain The next seven months in the Middle East Will the international community abandon Lebanon? Poll: What political option is better for Israel? The J Street test for Congress members Senior advisor to presidential candidate: get used to nuclear Iran (WTR) More Headlines 10:21 Ex-minister and journalist Yosef Lapid dies at 77 09:58 Olmert: I won't block primaries; Kadima seeks early vote 09:17 IDF soldier moderately wounded by Palestinian fire in south Gaza 08:02 Barak and Olmert delay cabinet vote on Gaza Strip cease-fire 09:10 Obama quits his church over pastor's racially charged views 08:28 Israel urges EU: Show 'caution' in contacts with Damascus 07:47 Arab birth rate on decline in Jerusalem 08:04 Crown Heights locals fear race riots 09:19 Education Minister comes up with booster plan for Arab schools 03:38 Islamic-era skeletons 'disappeared' from Elad-sponsored dig 06:18 Researchers' complaints ignored over anthrax vaccine problems 10:04 Released Hezbollah spy says acted as 'Muslim and patriot' 06:20 2009 budget deadlocked by Olmert investigations Previous Editions Select Day 30 may 29 may 28 may 27 may 26 may 25 may 23 may 22 may 21 may 20 may 19 may 18 may

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