Hamas gunmen execute six ‘Israeli spies’

Witnesses say masked gunmen have publicly killed six suspected collaborators with Israel at a busy Gaza City intersection. The Hamas military wing claimed responsibility. Witnesses said the six men were pulled out of a van Tuesday, forced to lie face down on the street and then shot dead.

Five bodies lay in a pile as a mob stomped and spit on them. A sixth body was tied to a motorcycle and dragged through the streets as people screamed, “Spy! Spy!”

Hamas posted a sign on an electricity pole, naming the six alleged informers.

Israel relies on a network of local informants to identify its targets.

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Hours before Morsi spoke, a man identified as Hamas’ militant commander urged his fighters to keep up attacks on Israel, and Palestinian militants fired a rocket toward Jerusalem, just minutes before UN chief Ban Ki-moon arrived in the holy city. Israeli airstrikes killed a senior militant and five others in a separate attack on a car, according to Gaza health officials.

“This must stop, immediate steps are needed to avoid further escalation, including a ground operation,” Ban said from Egypt. “Both sides must hold fire immediately … Further escalation of the situation could put the entire region at risk