Top EU Court Rules to Keep Hamas on Terror Blacklist

Pictured Above: European Union (EU) flags in front of the European Commission building in Brussels. Credit: Amio Cajander via Wikimedia Commons.

(JNS.org) The European Union’s (EU) Court of Justice ruled Wednesday to keep the Palestinian terror group Hamas on its list of terrorist organizations.

The decision defies the court’s top lawyer, who had argued in favor of removing Hamas from the EU’s terror blacklist. The ruling nullifies a 2014 decision by a lower EU court, made on procedural grounds, which stated Hamas should be removed from the blacklist. The 2014 ruling drew strong rebuke from the Israeli government.

“The current listing of Hamas remains in force and the European Union continues to consider Hamas a terrorist organization,” said EU Ambassador to Israel Lars Faaborg-Andersen, The Times of Israel reported. “All restrictive measures against the group—an asset freeze and a ban against soliciting or mobilizing funds—remain in force.”

The designation keeps numerous Hamas funding sources frozen and restricts the terror group from doing business in the EU. It also restricts the freedom of movement of Hamas members.