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Foreign Office Minister expresses concern at executions in Gaza

Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt has said he is deeply concerned by the execution of three men on 7 April in Gaza by Hamas.

• From: Foreign & Commonwealth Office and The Rt Hon Alistair Burt
• Published: 11 April 2012

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Speaking today he said:

“The British Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. We consider that its use undermines human dignity, that there is no conclusive evidence of its deterrent value, and that any miscarriage of justice leading to its imposition is irreversible and irreparable. The UK has called repeatedly for the implementation in Gaza of the moratorium on the death penalty which is present in the West Bank. We hope that this moratorium will lead to the eventual abolition of the death penalty in the Occupied Palestinian Territories”.

Published 11 April 2012