Police in Gaza have publicly burned large trash bags of drugs and alcohol bottles in what they say is an expanded anti-drug campaign.
Amer Issa, head of the Hamas anti-drug unit, says the drugs were smuggled from Israel or Egypt.
Before it was torched: The big load (Photo: AFP)
He says that in July, Gaza police seized 150 kilograms of marijuana, four kilograms of cocaine, 200 bottles of alcohol and 2 million pain killer tablets many Gazans have been abusing as a narcotic.
Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007 and has enforced its strict version of Islam, including banning alcohol and drugs.
Gaza's Attorney General Mohammed Abed said Tuesday that the arrested drug dealers connected to the July raid will face trial soon. He said some might be executed.
"Just as the drugs were caught, the drug dealers will be hanged," he warned after the bonfire in Gaza City, into which medication for the treatment of erectile dysfunction was also tossed.
"We will amend the law to include the death sentence for people who want to harm our society and try to render it anti-patriotic, inhumane, and immoral."