Hamas denounces Egyptian attempts to designate it a 'terrorist' organisation

The Palestinian Islamic resistance movement Hamas issued a statement on Sunday suggesting that the Egyptian court’s consideration of a case seeking to designate it a “terrorist” organisation is an effort that serves only the Israeli occupation. The court is due to deliver its verdict on Tuesday.

“We seriously look at this unjustified escalation against Hamas and the Palestinian resistance. This attempt has a judicial face, but the motivation is political and serves only the Israeli occupation, which criminalises resistance and considers it terrorism,” the statement said.

Hamas reiterated its position that it does not interfere in any country’s internal affairs, insisting that its opponent is the Israeli occupation and that it will never target any other side.

The movement also expressed its surprise that an Arab court would even convene to discuss this issue, calling upon Egypt to support the Palestinian resistance and not prosecute it.

Hamas classified such moves as an attempt to deflect attention away from the Israeli occupation as the real enemy that threatens Egypt and the whole region.

In related news, an Egyptian lawyer has filed a complaint against interim Egyptian President Adly Mansour, former Prime Minister Hazem Al-Beblawy and Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim for not designating Hamas a terrorist organisation.

Egypt’s interim government designated the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation in December 2013 after a series of attacks against Egyptian security forces, despite the fact that the Islamist movement denounced the violence, a separate group claimed responsibility, and the government offered no evidence linking the Brotherhood to the attacks.

Note: This page was updated at 12.36 GMT on Mar 4, 2014 – removed the word “former” from Adly Mansour’s title.