GENEVA (AFP) – Amnesty International on Tuesday accused Hamas of waging a deliberate campaign to kill or maim scores of Palestinian opponents in the Gaza Strip since the end of December.

The human rights group said in a report that at least two dozen men were shot dead by gunmen from the Palestinian militia that governs the Gaza Strip since December 27.

“Scores of others have been shot in the legs, kneecapped or inflicted with other injuries intended to cause severe disability, subjected to severe beatings… or otherwise tortured or ill-treated ” it added.

“Hamas forces and militias in the Gaza Strip have engaged in a campaign of abductions, deliberate and unlawful killings, torture and death threats aginst those they accuse of ‘collaborating’ with Israel, as well as opponents and critics,” the report said.

The campaign began shortly after the beginning of the three week Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip on December 27 and continued after the ceasefire on January 18, according to Amnesty.