Hamas Hangs Palestinian for 'Collaborating' with Israel

W300

Gaza's Hamas rulers on Saturday executed a Palestinian convicted of collaborating with Israel and two others deemed complicit in murder, the interior ministry said.

The ministry said in a statement that the three men were hanged in a "security center" in Gaza City.

It was the first time this year that the Islamist movement had carried out an execution of someone accused of "collaborating" with the Israelis.

The statement did not give the men's names, ages or any other information.

The last time the death sentence for aiding Israel was carried out was in July 2011, when two Palestinians were executed on the charge.

In March this year, a Gaza military court condemned to death a 27-year-old Palestinian convicted of "treason" for allegedly cooperating with Israel, but did not publish his name.

Since the start of this year, authorities in Gaza have announced two other death sentences, one against a man convicted of "collaborating" with Israel, the other found guilty of killing his brother.

It was not clear if any or all of those were hanged on Saturday.