Hamas to execute 3 alleged assassins days after found guilty

JERUSALEM – Hamas has announced it will execute three men on Thursday who were found guilty this week of assassinating a senior member of the militant Islamic group in March.

Amnesty International is urging the Hamas to stay the executions. The human rights group says the men were found guilty “in a court that utterly disregarded international fair trial standards.”

“We are urging the Hamas authorities to immediately halt these executions and ensure that the men are given a fair retrial,” Amnesty said Wednesday.

Mazen Faqha, a senior Hamas commander, was shot on March 24 outside his Gaza home. Hamas accuses the three suspects of collaborating with Israel and sentenced them to execution on Sunday.

Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007 after ousting forces from the rival Fatah party.