Germany said to ban Hamas after deadly attacks in Israel

By Oliver Towfigh Nia

BERLIN (AA) – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Thursday that the Palestinian group Hamas would be outlawed in the wake of deadly attacks in Israel.

“The Federal Ministry of the Interior will ban Hamas from operating in Germany,” said the chancellor in a statement to parliament explaining his government's stance on the latest situation in the Middle East following the escalation of deadly conflict between Hamas and Israel.

“Anyone who supports a terrorist organization like Hamas is committing a criminal offense,” Scholz said.

He also announced that the Berlin-based Palestinian group Samidoun, which calls itself the prisoner solidarity network, would also be banned.

“A club like Samidoun whose members celebrate the most brutal terrorist attack (in Israel) on the street is banned in Germany. This is disgusting. This is inhumane. That contradicts all the values ​​to which we as a country are committed,” said Scholz.

“We will not accept hatred and agitation. We do not tolerate anti-Semitism,” he added.

German authorities have clamped down on pro-Palestinian activists and sympathizers over the past days following the escalation of deadly armed conflict between Israel and Hamas, banning all Palestinian demonstrations in Berlin until Oct. 17.

Critics say the government's recent actions violate constitutional rights, freedom of association, and the right to demonstrate.

Earlier this week, Initiative Palestine, accused Berlin police of banning pro-Palestinian rallies "on racist grounds.”

"However, we will not be silenced. We will inform about upcoming steps to bring (the) Palestine (issue) to the streets of Berlin," the group said on its website.

Over 1,200 Palestinians and 1,300 Israelis have been killed since the start of the Israel-Palestine conflict on Saturday.

In a dramatic escalation of Mideast tensions, Israeli forces have launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip, a response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.

The conflict began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air, which Hamas said was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

In response to Hamas' actions, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.

Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.