The U.K. government to outlaw the [Nov. 26] the Hamas, in its entirety, and list them as terrorists

There are NOW 78 terrorist groups proscribed by the U.K., after Hamas being added to the proscribed list.

HAMAS is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist, militant, and nationalist organization. It has

• A social service wing, Dawah, and
• A military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.

The Hams won the 2006 Palestinian legislative election and became the de facto governing authority of the Gaza Strip following the 2007 Battle of Gaza. AND It also holds a majority in the parliament of the Palestinian National Authority.

Up to now Hamas has been treated differently by different countries

• Canada, the European Union, Israel, Japan and the United States have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization.
• The European Union has Hamas on its list of terror groups,
• The U.S. designated Hamas as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) in 1997.  .
• Australia, New Zealand, Paraguay and the United Kingdom have designated ONLY ITS MILITARY WING as a terrorist organization.
• IT IS NOT considered a terrorist organization by Brazil, China, Egypt, Iran, Norway, Qatar, Russia, Syria and Turkey.
• In December 2018, the United Nations General Assembly rejected a U.S. resolution condemning Hamas as a terrorist organization.[g] Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Khaled Mashaal are based in Qatar.

The organization’s military wing, Hamas Izz al-Din al-Qassem Brigades, was banned by the U.K. in 2001, but the new listing bans Hamas in its entirety.

• At the time of the initial listing, the U.K. government believed there was a distinction between the two wings,
• But now the delineation is understood to be artificial, according to the Home Office statement. 

The U.K. Home Office said in a statement.

• Hamas calls for the destruction of Israel and the establishment of an Islamist state in Palestine under Sharia law,

Home Secretary Priti Patel said Friday in a speech in Washington, D.C.

• “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 group, which also controls the Gaza Strip, has raised, moved and transferred funds through its networks of charities and shell companies, including most recently following a flare-up in May with Israel,   

Hamas political bureau leaders may no longer be allowed to travel to the U.K. due to the group’s listing in its entirety. Some Hamas leaders, including Khalid Meshaal, who was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2003, have visited the U.K. in the past, and more recently participated in virtual events hosted by London-based organizations.

In statements issued by the group in English and Arabic, Hamas

• Expressed its “shock and dismay” at the U.K. decision, noting that the British government “should have apologized for its historic sin against the Palestinian people.”
• The statements stressed the group’s commitment to violence and resistance “with all means possible, including armed resistance.”
• On Telegram, Hamas called on followers to “continue the resistance until the defeat of the occupation.”
• Political bureau chief Mousa Abumarzook said on social media that the U.K. listing of the group in its entirety “limits” London’s role in the region and “underestimates” Hamas’s level of support.

Once approved, the U.K. listing would take effect Nov. 26.

• Proscription makes it a criminal offense in the U.K. to be a member of or solicit support for the group, with those found guilty facing up to 14 years in prison.

It marks its third U.K. proscription order in the past year; the prior listings focused on

• The white supremacist organizations The Base and Atomwaffen Division.

Source

• https://brief.kharon.com/updates/uk-to-ban-hamas-naming-it-a-terrorist-group/?utm_campaign=Readbook&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=186846777&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--5AfYvME8R4H_siugu0CAZEOUL8oW6I02h3l3qlMend1at7MTCAzT9HvyZuU85KqztFTINaDpILhYGbJZ7s28HxtzsVHjdBYV-8Q1aBidu2mItIdo&utm_content=186846777&utm_source=hs_email