United Kingdom labels Hamas political branch as terrorist

The government of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson declares the entire organization of Hamas as terrorist. This was announced by the Minister of the Interior, Priti Patel, on Friday, writing British media. Sympathizers risk a prison sentence of up to ten years. Pratel hopes that declaring Hamas terrorist will help in the fight against anti-Semitism.

Anyone who expresses sympathy for the Palestinian Islamic political organization, waves the Hamas flag or organizes party rallies are considered violators of the British terror law. Hamas’ militant movement, the Izz ad-Din al-Kassam Brigades, was banned in the United Kingdom in 2001. Pratel, who is on a working visit to Washington, said Friday he could “no longer split” the militant and political branch.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet says on Twitter welcome the Johnson administration’s decision.

The US, Canada and the EU have previously classified Hamas as a banned terrorist organization, which mainly targets prominent Hamas figures. The organization, founded in 1987, considers itself an Islamic resistance movement that strives for the liberation of Palestine. It won the 2006 elections in the Palestinian territories. The gains sparked a civil war with the secular Fatah party. Since then, Hamas has controlled Gaza and Fatah in the West Bank.

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