Federal Council criticized for lack of ban on Hamas: Anti-Semitism Foundation calls for a halt to aid financing

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The pressure on the Federal Council is increasing. Switzerland must also finally classify the radical Islamic Hamas as a terrorist organization, demands the Foundation against Racism and Anti-Semitism (GRA). After Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, unexpectedly launched a major offensive against Israel this weekend, several thousand rockets were fired and Hamas fighters murdered and kidnapped civilians, there is once again strong criticism of the Federal Council’s cautious Middle East policy. .

“You can’t close your eyes to the facts.” The attacks were terrorist attacks, said Jonathan Kreutner, secretary general of the Swiss Association of Jewish Communities. “Hamas can only be described and condemned as a terrorist organization. We also expect the same from official Switzerland.” The Swiss-Israeli Association also demanded this.

Switzerland must stop aid funds

The GRA goes even further. Switzerland must also cut off all financial aid, diplomatic connections and ‘so-called ‘good offices’. This is apparently already planned in Austria. The Austrian Foreign Minister announced on Monday morning that all development aid payments would be temporarily suspended.

The Anti-Semitism Foundation accuses the federal government of saying that – precisely because the organization is not banned – it is still possible for Hamas to carry out financing activities and receive government support and donations through Switzerland. It is unclear to what extent the Hamas terrorists process their finances through Switzerland.

“The recent events definitively and unmistakably demonstrate the intentions of this group, which is to use terror in any form without restraint in accordance with its intended purpose. The Federal Council’s current assessment of Hamas’s objectives and role therefore does not correspond to reality,” the GRA said.

Federal Council against ban

Listing Hamas as a terrorist organization has been a problem in Switzerland for years. Civilian politicians have insisted on this several times. But so far a clear majority of Parliament and the Federal Council have spoken out against it. On the one hand, Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis (62, FDP) states that Switzerland has no legal basis to ban such organizations. On the other hand, there are fears that this could endanger Switzerland’s mediating role as a neutral state.

There is particularly great skepticism in the left-wing camp that a ban is useful. But there are also voices that view this differently. Aargau SP national council member Gabriela Suter (50) clearly speaks out in favor of a ban on Hamas on the grounds that “Hamas is a terrorist organization.” Switzerland should classify them as such and ban them. (lha)

Source:Blick