Hamas sentences accused Israel collaborator death by firing squad

A military court in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Sunday sentenced a man to death by firing squad for allegedly collaborating with Israel.

Hamas spokesman Mohammed Nahal provided no other details regarding the sentencing. He said he did not know how many Gazans are currently on death row.

The death sentence in Gaza cannot technically be carried out unless Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah party rules in the West Bank, approves the move. Abbas has not allowed executions to take place since he came to power in 2005.

Rights groups say that Hamas has executed 17 men who escaped jail during Israel's three-week military operation in Gaza last month, after being convicted as collaborators.

Amnesty International two weeks ago accused Hamas of carrying out a "deadly campaign" against its Palestinian opponents and critics in the Gaza Strip, particularly those they accuse of "collaborating" with Israel.

"Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip have carried out a deadly campaign of abductions, killings, torture and death threats against those they accuse of 'collaborating' with Israel, as well as opponents and critics," the human rights group wrote in its latest report, on February 10.

Amnesty International succeeded in gathering testimonies from a number of victims, but said many others refused to come forward for fear of retribution from Hamas.

In its report, the rights group urged Hamas to "immediately end the campaign of abuses" and to allow an impartial force into the Gaza Strip to investigate the allegations."

Tensions between Hamas, who seized control of Gaza in a bloody 2007 coup, and opponent groups such as Fatah have flared again in the wake of Israel's 22-day offensive on the Gaza Strip. The sides have held negotiations on reconciliation, but to little avail.

Amnesty's findings come in the wake of numerous media reports and quiet complaints by Fatah activists of similar instances.

Late last month, Hamas announced that it had begun reasserting control in the Gaza Strip and rounding up suspected collaborators with Israel, drawing accusations from the rival Fatah group that its members were being targeted.