Interior Minister Nancy Faeser banned the activities of Hamas and the pro-Palestinian Samidoun network in Germany on November 2.
Searches were underway Thursday morning in four different regions of Germany, among members and sympathizers of the Palestinian organizations Hamas and Samidoun, banned in the country, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
“We are continuing our consistent action against radical Islamists. By banning Hamas and Samidoun in Germany, we have sent a clear signal that we do not tolerate any apology or support for Hamas’ barbaric terror against Israel.”said Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser in the press release.
“Islamists and anti-Semites should not feel safe anywhere”she added, indicating “closely follow Islamist circles.
A total of fifteen properties have been searched since 6:00 a.m. Thursday morning, on an order from the administrative courts of the four Länder.
The minister banned the activities of Hamas and the pro-Palestinian Samidoun network in Germany on November 2.
Hamas has some 450 members in Germany, according to official German figures.
So far, “there have been no violent actions by Hamas in Germany”, explains the press release. Its activities go “from expressions of sympathy and propaganda activities to fundraising or donation collection activities” For “strengthen the central organization abroad.”
“Members and supporters of Hamas in Germany are further working to influence the political and social discourse in Germany in the direction of Hamas”according to the ministry.
For its part, the Samidoun network “advocates the use of violence as a means to assert political interests and denies Israel’s right to exist”, adds the press release. According to the ministry, the network promoted the strategy of terror used by Hamas.
The bans on these groups came after the Palestinian Islamist group’s bloody attack in Israel on October 7, mainly against civilians. According to Israeli figures, around 1,200 people were killed and 240 people taken hostage in the Gaza Strip.
In retaliation, Israel vowed to“annihilate” Hamas, relentlessly shelling the besieged territory where 2.4 million Palestinians are crowded and launching a ground operation on October 27. According to Hamas figures, more than 14,100 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip.