JERUSALEM, May 25, 2017 (WAFA) - The European Union Representative, the EU Heads of Mission and the Head of Mission of Norway in Jerusalem and Ramallah Wednesday urged Hamas, as the power in control of Gaza, not to carry out executions planned for Thursday of people convicted of assassinating a Hamas military wing leader.

Hamas officials said that three people sentenced to death on Sunday for their involvement in last month’s murder of Mazen Fuqaha will be executed on Thursday. A Hamas military court had found the three guilty of acting as agents for Israel and murdering Fuqaha at orders from the Israeli intelligence.

“The Missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah recall their firm opposition under all circumstances to the use of capital punishment and call for the authorities in Gaza to refrain from taking such decisions,” said a statement by the missions.

“The Missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah urge the authorities in Gaza to uphold the obligations to respect the rights to life and to a fair trial - which are guaranteed by international human rights law under the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - and not carry out these executions, and join the appeal made by the UN Commissioner for Human Rights in this regard.”

The Missions said that the EU and Norway “consider that abolition of the death penalty contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and the progressive development of human rights. It considers capital punishment to be cruel and inhuman, that it fails to provide deterrence to criminal behavior, and represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity.”

They added: “The authorities in Gaza must refrain from carrying out these and any other executions of prisoners and comply with the moratorium on executions put in place by the Palestinian Authority, pending abolition of the death penalty in line with the global trend.”

M.K.