LONDON — Showing support for Hamas in Britain could be punished with
14 years in prison if the government succeeds in banning the group as a
terrorist organization, the Home Office said Friday.
اضافة اعلان
Home Secretary Priti Patel announced the move to bring Britain into line
with the US, which designated Hamas a terror group in 1995, and the EU.
Parliament will vote on the proposals next week and if successful, could
become effective from next Friday.
Patel argued an outright ban under the Terrorism Act 2000 was necessary because
it was not possible to distinguish between Hamas' political and military wing.
The Al-Qassam Brigades military wing of the Islamist movement that rules the
Gaza Strip has been banned in Britain since March 2001.
"Hamas has significant terrorist capability, including access to
extensive and sophisticated weaponry, as well as terrorist facilities, and it
has long been involved in significant terrorist violence," she said in a
statement.
"Hamas commits, participates, prepares for and promotes and encourages
terrorism."
Patel, who is on a trip to Washington, earlier called Hamas
"fundamentally and rabidly anti-Semitic", adding that proscription
was required to protect the Jewish community.
Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett applauded the news, calling Hamas
"a radical Islamic group that targets innocent Israelis and seeks Israel's
destruction".
"I welcome the UK's intention to declare Hamas a terrorist organization
in its entirety — because that's exactly what it is," he wrote on Twitter.
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said the move was a result of "joint
efforts" between the British and Israeli governments.
Hamas criticism
But Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem called the move "a crime against our
Palestinian people and all their history of struggle, as well as a condemnation
of the legitimate struggles of all free peoples against colonialism".
Qassem said the decision, if approved by parliament, would be "a great
political, moral and legal sin committed by Britain" and only favored
Israel.
The proposals would see the outlawing of flying Hamas' flag, arranging to
meet its members, or wearing clothing supporting the group.
Politically, it could force Britain's Labor party to take a position on
Hamas, given the strong pro-Palestinian support on the hard left of the
main opposition party.
Former leader Jeremy Corbyn in 2016 said he regretted once calling members
of Hamas and Hezbollah "friends" during a meeting at the British
parliament.
Veteran socialist Corbyn, who said he was attempting "inclusive"
language to encourage talks about the peace process, resigned after Labor's
2019 election drubbing.
Under his leadership, opponents alleged anti-Semitism went unchecked and
even flourished, forcing Jewish members and lawmakers to leave the party in
droves.
Earlier this month, a man appeared in court for wearing T-shirts supporting
Hamas' military wing and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which was banned in Britain
in 2005.
On three occasions in June, Feras Al Jayoosi, 34, wore the garments in the
Golders Green area of north London, which has a large Jewish population.
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