Palestinian authorities executed five Palestinians on Sunday, two of them on charges of spying for Israel from 2015 and 2009, Reuters reported, citing the Interior Ministry.

The executions at dawn, by hanging or firing squad, were the first in the Palestinian territories since 2017. Previous executions in Gaza have drawn criticism from human rights groups.

The ministry statement did not give the full names of those sentenced. It said that three of them were convicted of murder. The two convicted spies, ages 44 and 54, passed information to Israel that led to the killing of Palestinians, the statement said.

"he execution was carried out after the conclusion of all legal procedures. The rulings had been final, with implementation mandatory, after all of the convicted were accorded full rights to defend themselves," the statement said.

Palestinian and international human rights groups condemned the death penalty and called on the Palestinian authorities to end the practice.