Hamas to execute Palestinian convicted of spying for Israel

A Hamas military court in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday issued a death sentence against a Palestinian resident accused of collaborating with Israel, a prosecutor said. The prosecutor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, gave no details about the identity of the convict, but said a final verdict to hang him was issued. This is the third death sentence Hamas courts issued against Israel's informants in Gaza since the beginning of this year. The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) in the West Bank and rights groups argue that the executions Hamas carrying out in Gaza were illegal, since the Palestinian law requires the president's endorsement for the verdicts before they are implemented. Earlier this month, Hamas rejected a call from the United Nations to halt planned executions in Gaza. The call was made by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay. "I am concerned about the process by which death sentences are imposed by military and civilian courts in the Gaza Strip," Pillay said. "Serious concerns have also been raised about the ill-treatment and torture during interrogations of persons later sentenced to death," she added. In November, Hamas militants carried out public, summary executions against seven people on charges of collaborating with Israel. The executions happened during an eight-day Israeli military offensive against Gaza. Hamas also hanged another 16 Palestinians convicted of crimes or collaboration in Gaza's central prison.