Hamas leader urges UK court to revoke ban

DDM News

A senior official of the Palestinian militant group Hamas has launched a legal challenge in the United Kingdom.

Diaspora digital media (DDM) gathered that he is seeking the removal of the group from the UK’s official list of banned terrorist organizations.

Moussa Abu Marzouk, a high-ranking Hamas leader, submitted a detailed witness statement to a British court.

In the statement, he argues that Hamas is not a terrorist entity but a legitimate resistance movement.

This legal move was reported by The Times of Israel.

It comes amid renewed international attention on Hamas following the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

The attack resulted in significant loss of life and widespread destruction.

The UK currently classifies Hamas in its entirety as a proscribed terrorist organization.

This designation carries legal implications for members and supporters within the country.

Marzouk’s court statement outlines Hamas’ ideological and historical position.

He claims that it is a liberation movement formed to resist Israeli occupation.

The document attempts to reframe the group’s narrative by focusing on its political and social objectives.

According to Marzouk, Hamas does not seek indiscriminate violence.

He claims its aim is to free Palestinian territories from foreign occupation and Zionist control.

The filing also addresses the group’s stance on antisemitism, Zionism, and political settlements.

Hamas claims that its conflict is not with Jews as a people or religion.

The group says its struggle is with Zionism and the state of Israel.

This distinction, according to Marzouk, is often blurred in Western media and policy.

He believes it contributes to Hamas’ unfair terrorist designation.

However, the court challenge contrasts with Hamas’ long history of violent attacks against Israel.

These include suicide bombings, rocket fire, and kidnappings.

The October 7, 2023, assault marked one of the deadliest in recent memory.

It involved an unprecedented ground invasion from Gaza into southern Israel.

More than 1,200 people were reportedly killed.

Many others, including foreign nationals, were taken hostage.

Despite Marzouk’s claims that the operation targeted military objectives, many observers report high civilian casualties.

The Israeli government and human rights groups documented widespread harm to civilians.

Organizations such as Human Rights Watch have called for independent investigations into the incident.

They cite possible breaches of international humanitarian law.

Hamas was founded in 1987 during the First Intifada.

It emerged as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood in Gaza.

The group combines political activity with military operations.

Its armed wing is known as the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.

In 2007, Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip.

This followed a violent conflict with rival political faction Fatah.

Since then, Hamas has governed Gaza under a de facto administration.

It continues armed resistance against Israel from the enclave.

The UK first banned Hamas’ military wing in 2001.

In 2021, the UK extended the ban to include its political wing.

This means supporting or promoting Hamas can lead to prosecution under UK counterterrorism laws.

Marzouk’s legal submission seeks to overturn this full proscription.

He wants Hamas recognized as a political actor engaged in a legitimate struggle.

Legal experts say the case could test the boundaries of terrorism definitions under British law.

They suggest it could explore whether political context can challenge such designations.

The British government has not yet publicly responded to the filing.

Analysts expect the case may stir debate amid ongoing Middle East tensions.

It could also prompt scrutiny of UK foreign policy on Israel and Palestine.

While Hamas presents itself as a resistance group, critics cite its targeting of civilians.

Such acts meet widely accepted definitions of terrorism.

The United States, European Union, and others also classify Hamas as a terrorist organization.

The UK court’s decision may influence international views on Hamas.

It could also affect the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

For now, Hamas remains on the UK’s banned organizations list.

Its activities, support, and public expression are still illegal under British law.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook