The UN's top human rights official is urging the militant Islamic group Hamas that rules Gaza to halt all executions because they are imposed without fair trial, The Associated Press reports.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said in a statement Wednesday, Aug 14, that under international human rights law the death penalty can be imposed only after a fair trial, and "this is currently not possible in Gaza, neither legally nor practically."

Pillay also says she has serious concerns about alleged ill-treatment and torture during interrogations of people who were later sentenced to death.

The last such executions in Gaza occurred in June.

Amnesty International has said Hamas authorities soon plan to publicly execute two prisoners, both men in their 20s, who are among at least 40 prisoners on death row in Gaza.