Wikipedia

Capital punishment in the Gaza Strip

See also: Human rights in the State of Palestine, Human rights in Israel's occupied territories, Targeted killings by Israel, and Palestinian land laws

Capital punishment in the Gaza Strip has been enforced by multiple governments, militaries, and irregular militias throughout the area's history. A large proportion of the killings have been associated with broader violent conflicts.

The death penalty has been applied to offenses such as murder, treason, and terrorism.[citation needed]

History edit

The Palestinian National Authority in Gaza edit

The State Security Court in Gaza (Arabic: محكمة أمن الدولة في غزة), which was formed in 1995, issued several death sentences against eight people, as follows: 3 in 1995, 3 in 1997, and 2 in 1999, all of which were in murder cases. Not all sentences were carried out.[1]

Executions by Gaza's government and military (2007-2023) edit

See also: Hamas government in the Gaza Strip, Fatah–Hamas reconciliation process, and Hamas war crimes

Death penalty authorities internally after 2007 edit

From the Battle of Gaza (2007) until the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip (2023–present), Hamas had control of the interior of the Gaza Strip on the ground, but did not control the airspace, maritime borders, or land borders, except for the Palestinian side of the land crossings.[2] Two parallel Palestinian judicial systems carried out executions in the Gaza Strip. The judiciary of the Hamas-led civilian government and the military courts of the Ezzedeen al Qassam Brigades. The West Bank and Gaza Strip governments collaborate closely on issues such as health, but on other issues the Gaza Strip authorities act more autonomously. Palestinian law requires approval from the Palestinian National Authority president (currently Mahmoud Abbas) for the death penalty, but the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip have disregarded this rule on multiple occasions.[3]

23 executed in 2014 edit

During the 2014 Gaza War, Hamas executed 23 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.[4] According to an Amnesty International report,[5][6] 23 Palestinians were executed by Al Qassam in the course of the 2014 conflict, and 16 of them imprisoned from before the war began.[citation needed] From among the executed, 6 were killed by a firing squad outside a mosque in front of hundreds of spectators including children.[citation needed] Amnesty International states that Hamas used the cover of war to settle scores against opponents under the pretext they were collaborators with Israel.[7]

9 sentenced to death in 2015 and 4 in January 2016 edit

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights reported in December 2015 that Hamas issued nine death sentences in 2015. Hamas had sentenced four Gazans to death during the first weeks of 2016, all on suspicion of spying.[8][citation needed]

Mahmoud Eshtewi killed in February 2016 edit

In February 2016, Al Qassam claimed they had executed of Mahmoud Eshtewi (Arabic: محمود رشدي اشتيوي, romanized: Maħmoud Rushdi Eshtewi,[9][10] sometimes spelled "Mahmoud Ishtiwi".[11]) one of the group’s leading commanders, for very ambiguous reasons. Most reliable sources described the charges as unnamed or undefined.[12][13][9][14] The stated reason was “for behavioral and moral violations to which he confessed” (Arabic: تجاوزاته السلوكية والأخلاقية التي أقر بها)[9][10][14] Whatever it may refer to, the confession was probably obtained by torture.[14][13] Before his death, his family had been told that the death penalty charge - treason (giving information in Israel that causes the deaths of Palestinians) - had been dropped.[14] There is some suspicion that Eshtewi died in custody and was shot after death, from reports of people who saw his body before burial and thought the bullet wounds looked suspicious.[9][14] The New York Times and other media from the USA interpreted the vague charges as a reference to a "homosexual relationship".[verification needed][15][8] Eshtewi was survived by his two widows and his three children.[citation needed]

3 convicts executed in May 2016 edit

In May 2016, Hamas reportedly executed three men by firing squad and hanging.[16] The execution was performed in the al-Katiba prison. The executed men were convicted for murder. Reportedly, the execution defied protests from the United Nations and "will likely" deepen tensions with the Palestinian government in the West Bank.[16] Hamas defied an agreement with Fatah, the ruling party in the West Bank, by carrying out the executions without the approval of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas later announced that 13 additional prisoners are to be executed.[17]

3 alleged collaborators executed in April 2017 edit

In April 2017, it was reported that three Palestinians were executed by Hamas in Gaza Strip over alleged collaboration with Israel.[18] Reportedly, the men were hanged at a Hamas police compound, as dozens of Hamas leaders and officials watched the killing.[citation needed]

13 sentenced between January and August 2022 edit

According to B'Tselem, Hamas courts handed down 13 death sentences in January-August 2022, but had not carried out any since 2017.[3]

5 executed in September 2022 edit

On 4 September 2022, Hamas announced they had executed five men, including two men condemned over collaboration with the occupation (Israel), and three others in criminal cases.[citation needed] A a resident of Khan Younis born 1968 was convicted of supplying Israel in 1991 with “information on men of the resistance, their residence… and the location of rocket launchpads”; a second man, born 1978, was for supplying Israel in 2001 with intelligence “that led to the targeting and martyrdom of citizens” by Israeli forces, according to Hamas.[3] The other three men had been convicted for murder.

Death sentences and executions in the Gaza Strip (2005-2024) edit

Name(s) Charge Date Location Method
Ayman Taha [citation needed] Treason 4 August 2014 Unknown Shot
Atta Najjar[19] Treason 22 August 2014 Katiba prison Unknown
Mahmoud Eshtewi
(also spelled "Ishtiwi")
Arabic: محمود اشتيوي 		Undefined February 2016 Gaza Strip Firing squad (alleged by Al Qassam)[20][14]
Prior death in custody (alleged by others)[13][14]
3 unnamed people Murder (3) September 2022 Gaza Strip Hanging [citation needed]
Khan Younis resident Treason[A]
Unnamed 44 year old male[B] Treason[C]

  1. ^ convicted of supplying Israel in 1991 with “information on men of the resistance, their residence… and the location of rocket launchpads”.[3]
  2. ^ born 1978
  3. ^ supplying Israel in 2001 with intelligence “that led to the targeting and martyrdom of citizens” by Israeli forces, according to Hamas.[3]

See Also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ The spelling of his name in English is extremely variable, including "Faiq Al-Mabhouh", "Fayek Mabhouh", and others. Many Arabic surnames start with an "Al" (Arabic: ال), this is usually omitted in English, but sometimes retained. The most common Romanisations of his first name are "Fayeq",[21][22] "Fayek",[23][24] and "Faiq",[25][26] but there are numerous other ways, ending in Q, K, G, or CK, e.g. Faack.[27] The Hebrew spelling is less variable (Hebrew: פאיק).[28]

References edit

  1. ^ "عقوبة الإعدام في مناطق السلطة الوطنية الفلسطينية بين التشريعات السارية والمعايير الدولية The death penalty in the areas of the Palestinian National Authority between applicable legislation and international standards". مركز المعلومات الوطني الفلسطيني Palestinian National Information Center. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  2. ^ "What is Gaza Strip, the besieged Palestinian enclave under Israeli assault?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e Times of Israel Archived 2022-09-04 at the Wayback Machine, 4 September 2022
  4. ^ Beaumont, Peter (27 May 2015). "Hamas executed 23 Palestinians under cover of Gaza conflict, says Amnesty". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  5. ^ "Hamas tortured and killed Palestinian 'collaborators' during Gaza conflict - new report". Amnesty International. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  6. ^ "'Strangling Necks': Abduction, torture and summary killings of Palestinians by Hamas forces during the 2014 Gaza/Israel conflict" (PDF). Amnesty International. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  7. ^ "Gaza: Palestinians tortured, summarily killed by Hamas forces during 2014 conflict". Amnesty International. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  8. ^ a b Moore, Jack (2 March 2016). "Hamas executed a prominent commander after accusations of gay sex". Newsweek. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  9. ^ a b c d "تعذيب وموت محتجز لدى حماس في غزة". Human Rights Watch (in Arabic). 16 February 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2024. لتجاوزاته السلوكية والأخلاقية التي أقر بها - For his behavioral and moral transgressions that he acknowledged.
  10. ^ a b "Implementation of the death sentence issued against Phalange member Mahmoud Eshtewi". Military Information Department of EQB. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  11. ^ Pfeffer, Anshel (13 May 2024). "Hamas leader's torture tactics revealed in IDF tunnel raid". The Times. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  12. ^ "Hamas kills a local commander for unnamed 'violations'". AP News. AP. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  13. ^ a b c "פלסטין: עציר עונה ומת בידי חמאס - Human Rights Watch" (in Hebrew). 15 February 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g "Palestine: Torture, Death of Hamas Detainee - Human Rights Watch". Human Rights Watch. 15 February 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2024. His family said they discovered that Qassam operatives held him in secret locations until February 7, when the group's Military Information Department issued a statement saying it had executed Eshtewi after sentencing him to death "for behavioral and moral violations to which he confessed."
  15. ^ Hadid, Diaa; Waheidi, Majd Al (1 March 2016). "Hamas Commander, Accused of Theft and Gay Sex, Is Killed by His Own". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  16. ^ a b Sanchez, Raf (31 May 2016). "Hamas begins executions in Gaza". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  17. ^ Dearden, Lizzie (2 June 2016). "Hamas resumes executions in Gaza". The Independent. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  18. ^ "Hamas executes 3 Palestinians over Israel ties". Associated Press via USA Today. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  19. ^ "'Strangling Necks': Abductions, torture and summary killings of Palestinians by Hamas forces during the 2014 Gaza/Israel conflict - occupied Palestinian territory". ReliefWeb. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  20. ^ "تعذيب وموت محتجز لدى حماس في غزة". Human Rights Watch (in Arabic). 16 February 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2024. لتجاوزاته السلوكية والأخلاقية التي أقر بها - For his behavioral and moral transgressions that he acknowledged.
  21. ^ McEnroe, Juno (24 February 2010). "State should expel Israeli ambassador, says brother". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Top Palestinian police officer killed by Israel at northern Gaza hospital". www.aa.com.tr. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Senior Hamas commander killed in Israeli airstrike last week, White House says". 18 March 2024.
  24. ^ Gabbatt, Adam (16 February 2010). "Members of hit squad suspected of killing Hamas man 'had UK passports'". The Guardian.
  25. ^ "Hamas condemns top Palestinian police officer's assassination". The Palestinian Information Center. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  26. ^ https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/top-hamas-man-killed-in-shifa-hospital-is-brother-of-terror-group-leader-assassinated-in-dubai/
  27. ^ "Troops engaged in shootout with Hamas logistics chief before killing him, new details show". 19 March 2024.
  28. ^ "N12 - פאיק מבחוח: "המוסד חיסל את אחי"". 19 February 2010.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Capital_punishment_in_the_Gaza_Strip&oldid=1226671940"