Gaza: Hamas Executes 5 Palestinians

Facts

• Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, executed five Palestinians on Sun., two of them on charges of espionage for Israel in 2009 and 2015. These were the first executions in the Palestinian territories since 2017.
• Hamas has said that the two men executed for espionage provided Israel with information that led to the killing of Palestinians. The other three men had been convicted of murder.
• Gaza's interior ministry stated that the "convicts were granted their full right to defend themselves in accordance with the litigation procedures."
• The last time Hamas instituted capital punishment, the group executed three Palestinians accused of being involved in the assassination of a Hamas military leader.
• Palestinian law requires approval from the Palestinian Authority president for the death penalty, but Hamas has carried out 27 executions without permission from Mahmoud Abbas since 2007 when the group took power in Gaza.

Sources: Guardian, NBC, CNN, and Al Jazeera.

Narratives

• Pro-Israel, as provided by Times of Israel. Hamas continues to show its true colors by brutally executing anyone it sees as a threat. Human rights groups have continuously criticized this behavior, but Hamas simply doesn't care. Israel is right to blockade Gaza while these terrorists are in power.
• Pro-Palestine, as provided by Alarabiya News. Hamas undertook what is standard practice across the world, including in the US. Treason and murder are executable offenses, and Gazan officials have every right to seek justice for these crimes.