Hamas sentences drug dealers to death by firing squad

The two men were sentenced to death in March after they were convicted of smuggling tramadol, marijuana, opium from Egypt via tunnels.

However, at that time the means of their execution was not specified. 

The military court also sentenced nine others to between five and 20 years in prison for involvement in drug dealing.

Hamas is routinely condemned by human rights organisations and foreign governments for its use of the death penalty.

Statistics compiled by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights state that at least 22 death sentences have been carried out in the besieged Gaza Strip since the Hamas movement won elections in 2006 and took unfettered control of the Strip following internecine fighting with Fatah militants in 2007.

After Hamas appointed Yahya Sinwar as its new Gaza-based political chief in February, many predicted that death penalties would increase under his rule.

Sinwar is notorious for being Hamas' "spy master" and for his militant background.

In 1988, Sinwar instigated an operation which resulted in the abduction and killing of two Israeli soldiers.

His brother, Mohammed Sinwar, is the leader of the al-Qassam brigades - the Hamas military wing which captured Israeli soldier Corporal Gilat Shalit in 2006.

Shalit was later released in a prisoner swap in 2011.

In April, the Hamas government executed three suspected "Israel collaborators" by hanging after the killing of Mazen Fuqaha, a senior Hamas militant commander.

Under Palestinian law, death sentences are not illegal, but all death sentences must be ratified by the Palestinian president before being carried out.

However, the Hamas government in Gaza has carried out executions periodically without receiving approval from PA President Mahmoud Abbas, whose rival - and internationally recognised - administration is based in Ramallah in the central West Bank.