Israeli decision to ban West Bank Islamist deputies is to disrupt legislative council

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has condemned the decision of the Israeli occupation authorities to list Islamist deputies in the occupied West Bank as “a banned group”. It is, said Hamas, “a desperate attempt to disrupt the [Palestinian] Legislative Council.”

A statement issued by the movement pointed out that the Israelis’ move is a denial of their “natural rights guaranteed by international charters and conventions”. Describing the decision as another “in a series of Israeli violations”, Hamas insisted that “it will not succeed in keeping the representatives of the Palestinian people away from exercising their right to defend national interests and principles”.

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While Hamas stressed the illegality of the Israeli decision, it also called on all Palestinian factions to join the movement in condemning Israel and its unjust decisions. “We lay great stress on the need to activate the role of the Palestinian Legislative Council and hold its sessions in response to Israeli attacks,” said the statement. “We call upon the Arab Parliamentary Union and parliamentarians around the world to show solidarity with the Palestinian parliamentarians and to condemn Israel and its practices in international forums.”