GAZA, September 26, 2017 (WAFA) – Deir al-Balah Court of First Instance passed on Tuesday the death sentence against three Palestinian residents of Khan Younis, in the south of the Gaza Strip, after they were convicted of murder, accessory to murder and robbery leading two local human rights centers to protest the ruling for lack of proper trial proceedings.

The court found the three guilty of killing a resident of Deir al-Balah during a robbery of his home and sentenced them to death.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) and al-Mezan condemned in two separate statements the ruling with PCHR saying the defendants did not get a fair trial because of lack of evidence and proper investigation into the charges levied against them.

Al-Mezan, on the other hand, called for abolishing the death sentence and to be replaced with rehabilitation of criminals in correctional facilities.

PCHR said 30 death sentences have been passed in the Gaza Strip under Hamas rule since the beginning of the year,18 of them were new sentences while the rest where upholding previously passed sentences.

Death sentences require approval of the Palestinian president. However, due to the division between the West Bank and Gaza Strip Hamas carries out death sentences without the president’s approval.

M.K.