Gazans drag the body of a suspected Israeli collaborator November 2012. Photo: Youtube.

A court in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Thursday sentenced two people to death and a third to hard labor after they were found guilty of  “collaboration” with Israel.

Ma’an News Agency reported that two Palestinian Arabs were sentenced to death by hanging. A third man was sentenced to hard labor.

Leaders of Hamas controlled Gaza have cracked down on “collaborators” in the Gaza Strip in recent months, launching a campaign in the media to discourage people from providing information to Israeli intelligence.

“Collaborators” were given a warning and a deadline to turn themselves over to save their lives.  Under Palestinian law, “collaboration” with Israel is punishable by death. However all execution orders must be approved by the president before they can be carried out. Hamas, however, no longer recognizes the legitimacy of incumbent Mahmoud Abbas, whose four-year term ended in 2009.