Hamas Sentences Seven Palestinians to Death for 'Collaboration with Israel'

The organization responsible for internal affairs in Hamas in the Gaza Strip stated that a military court on Sunday sentenced seven individuals to death by hanging for 'collaboration' with Israel. The organization announced in a statement that the court also sentenced seven others to 'life imprisonment with hard labor,' which is equivalent to 25 years in Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas controls the Gaza Strip, and its military court has consistently issued death sentences for a number of Palestinians accused of 'collaboration' with Israel. According to Palestinian laws, a death sentence requires approval from the President of the Palestinian Authority, who is based in the West Bank. However, since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, it has repeatedly ignored this requirement and executed two Palestinians last September for 'collaboration' with Israel, along with three others for murder. In April, two individuals were sentenced to death for 'collaboration with Israel,' and four others received life sentences. At least 17 death sentences were issued in the Gaza Strip in 2022. Militant groups in Gaza, including Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by Israel and the United States, have fought against Israel multiple times over the past 15 years. Approximately 2.3 million Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip, which has been under a crippling Israeli blockade since Hamas came to power.