Hamas publicly executed two Palestinians who were reportedly accused of collaborating with the Israeli military in the West Bank city of Tulkarm, according to Palestinian media.
The two men faced accusations for culpability in the deaths of three Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists earlier this month, the Israeli-based television channel i24NEWS reported.
Both of their bodies can be seen hanging upside down in front of a large crowd. A video posted to X shows Palestinians chanting in celebration over their deaths, gleefully shouting multiple phrases in Arabic.
“We would like to inform you that there is no immunity for any informer or any traitor, and that whoever is proven to be involved in any case of assassination of our fighters, we will attack him, pursue him and impose a death sentence on him,” a group called “Resistance Security” said of the executions.
Before they were made an example of, both unidentified men previously “confessed” on video that they helped the Israel Defense Forces in return for money. One of them claimed to have received about $4,500, while the other was paid about $2,677.
The public executions came during a mass celebration on Friday after 39 Palestinians were released as part of a four-day cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. In exchange, the terrorist organization freed a total of 24 hostages — composed of 13 Israelis, ten Thais, and one Filipino — on the first day of the temporary cease-fire deal. The International Committee of the Red Cross facilitated both sides of the hostage-prisoner release.
A second batch of 14 hostages held by Hamas are set to be released Saturday, while Israel is simultaneously preparing to free 42 Palestinian prisoners.
At least 50 Israeli women and children will be exchanged for at least 150 Palestinian women and minors that are imprisoned in Israel, provided the deal continues without any escalation in the conflict. In the coming days, a mutual cease-fire will remain in effect as Hamas’s hostages and Israel’s prisoners are released and humanitarian aid enters the Gaza Strip.
Before a deal was made, Hamas previously freed four out of an estimated 240 hostages since its October 7 attack on Israel that left 1,200 dead. This is the first official pause in fighting since the invasion.