Is Hamas a terrorist group?

I suspect many people, myself included, think that Hamas is a vile genocidal terrorist group but that would not include Riverway Law, a UK based immigration and nationality firm! What has it done? Well, it is working to see if it can help Hamas lose its designation as a terrorist group.

Yes, really!

It has posted the de-proscription application online - including witness statements and academic essays. There is also video of the application being delivered to the Home Office by principal solicitor Fahad Ansari, and barristers Daniel Grütters of One Pump Court and Franck Magennis of Garden Court.

Their submissions read:

‘For more than a century, the British State has been responsible for colonisation, ethnic cleansing and apartheid in Palestine. Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyyah (the Islamic Resistance Movement or "Hamas") is an organised resistance movement that exercises the right of the Palestinian people to resist Zionism and the colonisation, occupation, apartheid and, genocide carried out in its name.

‘The continued proscription of Hamas means support for – and complicity in – the unrelenting colonisation of Palestine and crimes against humanity and acts of genocide being perpetrated by the Zionist State. That support and complicity is irreconcilable with the obligations of the British State under both international and domestic law. This deproscription application seeks to remedy that ongoing illegality.’

Hamas submits, among other things, that its proscription is contrary to the duties of the British State and is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, because it unlawfully restricts the freedom of speech and assembly of those with whom the British State politically disagrees.’

I find it sickening that this Law Firm can argue such a case and agree with Robert Jenrick, shadow lord chancellor and justice secretary, who has said

‘Just over a year ago Hamas killed the largest number of Jewish people since the Holocaust. They still won’t return 59 hostages. Yet a UK law firm thinks there are arguments for their ban to be lifted. Sickening. It’s no surprise this firm specialises in immigration cases.’

Jenrick goes on further and says;

“The lawyers trying to remove Hamas from the UK’s list of proscribed terrorist groups should be investigated and potentially struck off

Jenrick has further called for “a thorough and transparent investigation” of Riverway Law by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). In a letter to the watchdog, Mr Jenrick said there is “a clear need to uphold public confidence in the legal profession and to ensure rigorous enforcement of the UK sanctions regime”.

The Riverway lawyers involved in the case have said Hamas has not paid them as it is illegal to receive funds from a group designated as a terrorist organisation.

Riverway Law added

'Nothing in these posts invites any individual to support, or express support for any proscribed organisation listed by the British Home Secretary under the Terrorism Act 2000.'

I think the very fact lawyers are seriously arguing for our human rights laws to be twisted to protect murderous terrorists shows why these laws are no longer fit for purpose. Human rights laws should protect our citizens, not foreign criminals and definitely not terrorists. The UK must leave the European Convention on Human Rights which has been used as the literal get out of jail card for terrorists and migrants.

Hamas are bloodthirsty monsters and it’s horrifying that these British based lawyers want to see them made respectable in the UK.

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