From the BBC:
“Hamas to be declared a
terrorist group by UK”
Home Secretary Priti Patel has
announced she is seeking to declare the whole of Palestinian militant group
Hamas a terrorist organisation. The military wing of the group which controls
Gaza is already proscribed a terrorist organisation by the UK. However, the
change will also cover the Islamist movement's political wing. It is a criminal
offence to belong to or invite support for a proscribed organisation or wear
clothing which could be seen to support the group. The penalty is a maximum of
10 years in prison and/or a fine.
Hamas has carried out hundreds of
deadly attacks against Israel and fired thousands of rockets at it during years
of hostilities between the two sides. Israel, along with Egypt, has hemmed in
the Gaza Strip since Hamas took over in 2006 and waged a series of wars against
it. Human rights groups have accused both sides of committing war crimes. Ms
Patel is expected to speak about the news on Friday in Washington and an order
will be laid in Parliament to complete the process. Announcing the move on
Twitter, Ms Patel said: "Hamas has significant terrorist capability,
including access to extensive and sophisticated weaponry, as well as terrorist
training facilities.” "This government is committed to tackling extremism and
terrorism wherever it occurs," she added. In response, Hamas accused the
UK of supporting "the aggressors at the expense of the victims". Israel
welcomed the move as a "significant decision". Foreign affairs
minister Yair Lapid said: "There is no legitimate part of a terrorist
organisation, and any attempt to differentiate between parts of a terrorist
organisation is artificial."
Under the Terrorism Act 2000, the
home secretary may proscribe an organisation if she believes it is concerned in
terrorism. Fifty-two other international terrorist organisations are already
proscribed under the act. Hamas is already designated a terrorist organisation
by the US, the EU and other powers. The group originally had a dual purpose of
carrying out an armed struggle against Israel - led by its military wing, the
Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades - and delivering social welfare programmes. But
after 2005, when Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza, Hamas has
also engaged in the Palestinian political process. It won the legislative
elections in 2006, before reinforcing its power in Gaza the following year by
ousting the rival Fatah movement of President Mahmoud Abbas.
^ This should have been done
years ago. Even the Palestinians in the West Bank don’t want to have anything
to do with Hamas or the Palestinians in Gaza and their repeated calls to “drive
Israel and the Jews into the sea” and their deadly attacks on Israel. Australia, Canada, Egypt, the EU, Israel, New
Zealand, the OAS, Paraguay, the UK and the US all designate Hamas as a
Terrorist Group and anyone (individual, organization or country) that provides
social media support, financial support, military support, etc. to Hamas and
the territory they govern (Gaza) is supporting Terrorism and can be charged by any
of the countries or organizations that list Hamas as the Terrorists they are.
Something many people learned in May 2020 when they were changed after
supporting Hamas’ attacks on Israel (using drones with bombs, rockets, etc.)
Supporting Hamas is the same as
supporting the Taliban, Al-Qaida or ISIS so watch what you post, like and do -
you could end up in Gitmo (even if you are ignorant about the realities -
stupidity is not an excuse for Anti-Semitism or Terrorism. ^
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