Germany bans pro-Hamas activity, dissolves group that celebrated attack on Israel

By AP 2 November 2023, 11:38 am 3 Edit

The Israeli flag flutters in the middle of the European (L) and the German flag in front of the Reichstag building hosting the Bundestag, the German lower house of Parliament in Berlin, while the German Chancellor gave a speech over the Israel-Hamas conflict during a Bundestag session on October 12, 2023. (Odd Andersen/AFP)

Germany’s top security official says she has implemented a formal ban on activity by or in support of Hamas and is dissolving a group that was behind a celebration of Hamas’ attack on Israel.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that the government planned to take action against the two groups on Oct. 12.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said she is putting the ban on activity related to Hamas, which is already listed by the European Union as a terrorist group, into effect today.

She says she also is banning and dissolving the German branch of the Samidoun network, which she said “supports and glorifies” groups including Hamas.

Samidoun was behind an Oct. 7 action in which a group of people handed out pastries in a Berlin street in celebration of Hamas’ attack on Israel.

Faeser said her ministry had worked “day and night” on implementing the measures quickly.