Gaza’s Hamas rulers hanged three men accused of allegedly collaborating with Israel Thursday following calls for revenge for the killing of one of their commanders last month, a foreign media journalist reported.
Hamas says that the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and its “collaborators” killed Mazen Faqha in the Palestinian territory on March 24, but has offered no evidence.
According to Hamas, Faqha formed cells for the group’s military wing in the West Bank cities of Tubas, where he was born, and Jenin.
The men who were hanged on Thursday were not implicated in his killing but the group has pledged “radical measures” against Palestinians who “collaborated” with Israel.
Hamas has offered “collaborators” with Israel a chance to turn themselves in and receive clemency.
“The doors of repentance will be open for one week, from Tuesday, April 4 to Tuesday, April 11,” the interior ministry said on Tuesday.
Hamas also tightly restricted movement out of the enclave following the assassination.
The measure remains in place despite calls from NGOs and human rights groups to lift it.
The restrictions have stopped male patients aged from 15 to 45 from using the territory’s sole crossing for people to enter Israel to receive medical treatment, Human Rights Watch said.
Security checks and searches have increased, including roadblocks.
Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza have fought three wars since 2008. The enclave has been under an Israeli blockade for 10 years.
