Middle East

Hamas burns drug stash in Gaza, sentences dealers to death

Associated Press
Published | Updated

A security officer secures the area while Hamas forces burn some 1,130 bars of hashish and 467,000 pills that had been seized since the beginning of the year, in Gaza City, Thursday, May 11, 2017. Gaza's militant Islamic Hamas rulers also sentenced two dealers to death as part of their campaign against drugs. Thursday marked the second time Hamas has delivered death sentences for drug dealing since the group overtook Gaza by force in 2007. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) (The Associated Press)

Spectators watch as an officer of the Hamas security forces burns some 1,130 bars of hashish and 467,000 pills that had been seized since the beginning of the year, in Gaza City, Thursday, May 11, 2017. Gaza's militant Islamic Hamas rulers also sentenced two dealers to death as part of their campaign against drugs. Thursday marked the second time Hamas has delivered death sentences for drug dealing since the group overtook Gaza by force in 2007. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) (The Associated Press)

A youth takes photos as Hamas security forces burn some 1,130 bars of hashish and 467,000 pills that had been seized since the beginning of the year, in Gaza City, Thursday, May 11, 2017. Gaza's militant Islamic Hamas rulers also sentenced two dealers to death as part of their campaign against drugs. Thursday marked the second time Hamas has delivered death sentences for drug dealing since the group overtook Gaza by force in 2007. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) (The Associated Press)

Gaza's militant Islamic Hamas rulers have burned a large stash of seized narcotics and sentenced two dealers to death as part of their campaign against drugs.

Thursday marked the second time Hamas has delivered death sentences for drug dealing since the group seized power in Gaza in 2007.

Hamas' Interior Ministry says some 1,130 bars of hashish and 467,000 pills that had been seized since the beginning of the year were destroyed.

Black plumes of smoke rose after the drugs were set on fire.

Islam forbids the consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs.