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GAZA, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- A court in Islamic Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Thursday issued a death sentence, the fifth in Gaza in a single week, against a man convicted of premeditated murder.
A High Judicial Council source in Gaza told Xinhua that the Palestinian man, convicted of murdering a 72-year-old woman last February, was sentenced to death by hanging.
The source, who demanded anonymity because he was not allowed to talk to the media, said the decision was taken after extended hearing sessions, during which the public prosecutor presented the evidence.
Last Monday the High Military Court issued a death sentence against a 54-year-old man accused of "communicating" with Israel since 1987.
"He was accused of informing the Israeli occupation of the locations and names of stone throwers and members of Palestinian factions," read the court ruling in his case.
Three other death sentences were issued in Gaza regarding murder and armed robbery cases.
The source told Xinhua that the rulings were based on fair trials.
On May 31, the Gaza-based interior ministry executed three individuals convicted of murder and robbery.
The recent death sentences were issued following an announcement by Hamas officials on measures to curb escalating crime rates in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas's appointed public prosecutor previously announced there were 13 death sentences pending execution.
Gaza-based legal researcher Mustafa Ibrahim told Xinhua that resorting to capital punishment indicates that the authorities "are examining the results and not the reasons."
"The tough economic situation that people of Gaza Strip suffer from and the exponential increase in poverty, unemployment, lack of rule of law, social justice and social welfare is the main reason for the escalated crime rates, and processing those phenomena cannot be through severe punishment," Ibrahim said.
Ibrahim also said that people are no longer able to psychologically withstand the dire economic conditions, evident in the widespread frustration which may increase crime rates.
The Hamas government, which took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, previously issued 14 death sentences, with some convicted of collaborating with Israel and others of various other crimes. Enditem
