AI accuses Hamas of torture, extrajudicial executions of Palestinians

Palestinian group Hamas is accused of committing war crimes including kidnapping, torture and unlawful execution of Palestinians in Gaza during its armed conflict with Israel in 2014, according to the Amnesty International, or AI, report released on Wednesday.

The report entitled “Strangling Necks’: Abduction, torture and summary killings of Palestinians by Hamas forces during the 2014 Gaza/Israel conflict” noted that Hamas was responsible for a series of abuses, such as the extrajudicial execution of at least 23 Palestinians and the arrest and torture of dozens during the period from June to August 2014.

Gaza war, between Israel and Palestinian armed factions led by Hamas, left more than 2100 Palestinians and 70 Israelis dead, in addition to destructing Gaza Strip.

“Hamas forces took the opportunity to ruthlessly settle scores, carrying out a series of unlawful killings and other grave abuses,” Philip Luther, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Program at Amnesty International, said.

“These spinechilling actions, some of which amount to war crimes, were designed to exact revenge and spread fear across the Gaza Strip,” Luther noted.

Many victims were publicly tried in unlawful trials, while six men, according to the report, were publicly executed by Hamas forces outside alOmari mosque on August 22 in front of hundreds of spectators including children, while others died in prison under mysterious circumstances and some others are still missing.

Hamas and Fatah, at loggerheads since 2007, signed a pact of reconciliation in April 2014 to form a government of national unity, although their agreement did not come into effect on the ground, while the conflict continued between the Islamist movement, which controls Gaza Strip, and Fatah, which controls the West Bank.

“The de facto administration in Gaza must send a message to all law enforcement forces to treat prisoners humanely at all times. All allegations of extrajudicial execution and torture must be impartially and independently investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice in fair trials,” Luther added.