Swiss government advancing bill to ban Hamas over October 7 onslaught

By Reuters 21 February 2024, 4:02 pm

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The Switzerland national flag waves in the wind on Lake Geneva in Geneva, Switzerland Sunday, June 13, 2021. (Markus Schreiber/AP)

Switzerland’s government says it wants to ban Hamas after the Palestinian terror group’s attacks in Israel last year which killed nearly 1,200 people and sparked a war in Gaza.

Bern says it was taking action after the attacks on October 7 which killed two Swiss nationals and resulted in 253 people being taken hostage.

The Swiss government says under the new legislation Hamas and “cover or successor organizations” as well as organizations or groups that act on its behalf or in its name will be banned.

The ban aims to punish Hamas for the October attacks as well as prevent the group from using Switzerland as a safe haven or carrying out attacks in the country for example by making entry bans or expulsions easier to arrange.

It will also help combat terrorist financing by allowing the Swiss anti-money laundering authorities to better exchange information with counterparts abroad, the government said.

The law, which has entered a consultation phase, will be limited to five years, the government says.