Five people hanged or shot to death by authorities in Gaza this week, among the 19 people executed since 2022. ICHR_Pal sets out clear recommendations for the authorities in Gaza
The Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) condemns the execution of five citizens by the Gaza-based Ministry of Interior and National Security on Sunday morning, 4 September 2022. This reflects a departure from the obligations imposed by Palestine’s accession to human rights conventions. It also reneges on commitment made the Hamas movement not to carry out new death penalties in the Gaza Strip.
According to the #ICHR documentation and monitoring, the executions and preceding court proceedings were riddled with irregularities, which substantially violated the right to defence, fair trial guarantees, right to be tried before a natural judge, and safeguards prescribed by the Palestinian Basic Law. Some death sentences were entered by military courts against civilians, impinging on the affected citizens’ right of legal recourse. This was in breach of the provisions of Article 101 of the Palestinian Basic Law and Penal Procedure Law No. 3 of 2001 in force in the Gaza Strip. Also, some of the executed citizens submitted affidavits and filed complaints to the ICHR, stating that they had been subjected to torture during investigation and interrogation. Death sentences were rendered over an unduly short span of time against some convicts. This highlights the suspicion that fair trial guarantees were disrespected. Contrary to Article 109 of the Palestinian Basic Law, death sentences were not endorsed by the President of the State of Palestine. It is unclear what criteria were referenced to carry out the capital punishment and put all five persons to death. At least 20 persons remain on death row in the #Gaza Strip.
#Politics #Humanrights #Palestine
https://www.ichr.ps/en/statements/6625.html
