Germany announces ban on Hamas activities in the country

NIn a speech at the Bundestag, Scholz indicated that Samidoun, a solidarity network with Palestinian prisoners, will also be banned due to the controversy that arose after the celebration of the attack.

“It’s despicable. It’s inhumane. It contradicts every value of our country,” Scholz said. “We will not stop taking action against hate and hate speech. We do not tolerate anti-Semitism,” he added.

The Chancellor stated that authorities will enforce the ban consistently. “Anyone who glorifies Hamas’ crimes or uses its symbols can be prosecuted in Germany,” he said.

“Anyone who tolerates murders and homicides or incites criminal acts can be prosecuted. Anyone who burns Israeli flags can be prosecuted. Anyone who supports a terrorist organization like Hamas can be prosecuted,” he detailed.

Scholz stated that security forces will demand accountability and expressly import “the prohibition of associations and activities”, he maintained.

According to data from the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the national intelligence service, Hamas has the support of around 450 people in Germany, many of them German citizens.

There is no official branch of the terrorist group in Germany and associations close to the movement have been banned for years. The only possible additional measure is the ban on activities announced today.

Scholz confirmed that development aid for Palestine will be suspended, after the Government announced the review of support.

The chancellor also clarified that authorities must first complete a review of support to ensure it “best serves Israel’s regional peace and security.”

“Until this review is completed, we will not make any new development cooperation resources available,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the suffering of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip can be predicted, which is likely to increase further.” “But the Hamas attack is also to blame,” he said.

Scholz also indicated that he was doing everything possible to obtain the release of all hostages held by Hamas. “I am in contact with the President of Egypt and will also speak with the Turkish President,” he said.

On the other hand, Israel today requested ammunition from Germany for its warships, said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

The minister also stated that he will speak to the Israeli authorities to obtain more details about Israel’s request and confirmed that Berlin will deliver medical equipment. “We stand with Israel,” he said.

Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, has threatened to execute hostages kidnapped in Israel, including young people captured during a music festival.

In addition to the 1,300 deaths in Israel, and according to the latest data from the Israeli Ministry of Health, 3,268 people were hospitalized, of which 28 were in critical condition, 348 in serious condition and 581 in moderate condition.

On the Gaza side, says the Palestinian Ministry of Health, in addition to the deaths of 1,354 people, many of them civilians, there were 6,049 injured in different states, as well as 31 deaths in the West Bank, where around 180 injured were also counted.

The attack led Israel to declare war against the Palestinian extremist group and respond with bombings against the Gaza Strip.

The United Nations says that the war has also left more than 260,000 people displaced in the Gaza Strip.

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