UK introduces order to ban Hamas News
UK introduces order to ban Hamas

UK Home Secretary Priti Patel Friday presented a proscription order to Parliament to enact a complete ban on Hamas, a terrorist movement, from the UK.

Patel introduced the proscription order under the Terrorism Act 2000 as she is satisfied, on the advice of the Proscription Review Group, that Hamas is a terrorist organization and total proscription is appropriate.

Although it is a major political party in Lebanon, Hamas also has a history of violence and is categorized as a terrorist organization in many western states. One of its primary goals is to create an Islamic Palestinian state, and it has repeatedly targeted Israel with terrorist actions.

Patel commented:

Hamas has significant terrorist capability, including access to extensive and sophisticated weaponry as well as terrorist training facilities, and it has long been involved in significant terrorist violence. Hamas commits, participates, prepares for and promotes and encourages terrorism. If we tolerate extremism, it will erode the rock of security.

The move follows a previous ban imposed in 2001 on Hamas’s military sub-group. Patel said that distinguishing between the military and political sides of Hamas has become artificial in the two decades since the original distinction.

Hamas’ terrorist activities do not appear to be decreasing despite influential jurisdictions leveling increasing sanctions against it, raising the barriers to Hamas’ operations in the UK to an all-time high. In August, Human Rights Watch found that Hamas committed rocket and mortar attacks which could constitute war crimes. The US and the European Union have also banned Hamas.

The proscription against Hamas is on track to come into force on November 26.