A human rights group complained Wednesday that Palestinian courts issued 11 death sentences in 2008.
Joe Stork of New York-based Human Rights Watch said this year was the first time since 2005 that Palestinian courts issued death sentences.
The group opposes the death penalty.
Palestinian courts are run by the Islamic Hamas regimein the Gaza Strip and the government of President Mahmoud Abbas inthe West Bank.
Stork said Wednesday that the surge in death sentences indicates a trend in both governments to ignore human rights.
Most of the death sentences were passed against people found guilty of collaborating with Israel.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has not ratified the death sentences, and they have not been carried out.