UK Moves To Ban Hamas, Declare Group A Terrorist Organization To Protect Jewish Community

The British government said Friday that it plans to ban Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, to tackle anti-Semitism and protect the Jewish community.

Hamas, a group that has controlled the Gaza Strip and adamantly opposes Israel’s existence, has been considered a terrorist group by Israel, the U.S. and the European Union. If the ban is approved by Parliament, it will be illegal to be a member of Hamas or to express support for the group in the U.K. under the Terrorism Act, the Associated Press noted.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said on Twitter that she has “taken action to proscribe Hamas in its entirety” and will push for the ban next week.

“Hamas has significant terrorist capability, including access to extensive and sophisticated weaponry, as well as terrorist training facilities,” she said.

Hamas' military wing has been banned in the U.K. since 2001 and Patel is advocating to ban Hamas as a whole.

If passed into law, the ban will be enforced on supporters who fly the Hamas flag, arrange to meet its members or wear clothing that is seen to support the group, The Sunday Times reports. Hamas supporters could face up to 14 years in prison.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss expressed her support for Patel, saying, “Hamas will be proscribed as a terrorist organisation” which “will help tackle the scourge of anti-Semitism.”

As reported by Al Jazeera, ​​Hamas responded in a statement, saying, “Instead of apologising and correcting its historical sin against the Palestinian people,[Britain] supports the aggressors at the expense of the victims.”

“Resisting occupation, by all available means, including armed resistance, is a right guaranteed by international law to people under occupation,” added the statement.

Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also reacted to the news, supporting Britain’s move to ban the militia.

“Hamas is a radical Islamic group that targets innocent Israelis & 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 tweeted.