The political arm of a radical Islamic group has approved a new law that allows traitors to their government to be crucified, thieves' hands to be chopped off and someone guilty of drinking alcohol to be whipped.

According to a report in the Jewish World Review, Hamas, which was elected to government power in Gaza, over Christmas week adopted penalties included in the Shariah criminal code for the Palestinian Authority.

The report said Hamas endorsed "nailing enemies of Islam to crosses" even as it was renewing its jihad by lobbing missiles at day care centers, schools and travelers in line "to travel to Bethlehem for Christmas."

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According to the online military news resource Strategypage, Hamas "believes it is better to be feared than loved" so it instituted the new laws.

"When word of its new laws reached the Western media, Hamas denied it. But in Gaza, the Arabic media made it clear that the new laws were very real, even if embarrassing when trying to explain it to the infidels," the site's commentary said.

"The ancient barbarity of crucification (sic) is brought back to life on the same week as British television broadcasts a 'Christmas message' from the radical Islamic president of Iran," noted the online page for One Jerusalem, a group established to unite people behind the concept of keeping the city away from division.

Right Side News Reports said, "Christians better wake-up as Hamas is bringting back the 'crucifixion' of Christians, Jews and anyone else who does not conform to their ideology."

A participant in the site's forum page said, "Anyone who isn't following the teachings of the Quran is an infidel to them, and according to the Quran they must convert or be killed. So wake up world! That means if you are Jewish, Christian, Gay, Buddhist, Hindu, Atheist, and so on, and you are not Islamic, you are an infidel to them and they must convert or kill you. They don't care if you are an adult, child, or an infant."

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