Gaza  - A Hamas military court in the Gaza Strip Sunday sentenced three Fatah members to death after finding them guilty of killing two journalists affiliated with the Islamist movement in the Gaza Strip two years ago.

Two of accused were tried in absentia after they fled Gaza when Hamas seized control of the salient in June 2007. The third was present to hear the sentenced pronounced.

Judge Mohammed Nofal said the three were charged with kidnapping and killing Mohammed Abdo and Suleiman al-Ashi, two local journalists who worked for the pro-Hamas daily Falestin, on May 13, 2007.

The three were members of the presidential guard who were in charge of providing security in the Gaza Strip for president Mahmoud Abbas before Hamas gunmen routed his forces in the June 2007 takeover.

The sentence is subject to appeal. Under Palestinian law, carrying out a death sentence requires written approval from the Palestinian president, in this case Abbas himself.

Since taking over the enclave, Hamas has issued death sentences, sometimes in absentia, against opponents, who mostly come from Abbas' Fatah movement.

None of the sentences were officially carried out, but human rights groups have accused Hamas with killing dozens of its political opponents who fled the Gaza central prison when Israel attacked the facility during its three-week offensive at the turn of the year. (dpa)