The Federal Council wants to ban Hamas for five years – live now. The chaos is greater than expected: financial audits sharply criticize Ruag’s top management

The Federal Council wants to ban the Islamist-Palestinian organization Hamas for five years, as Federal Councilor Beat Jans explained at a press conference on Wednesday.

The Federal Council sent a corresponding draft law for consultation on Wednesday. Organizations affiliated with Hamas are also affected by the ban – such as front and successor organizations or organizations that work on behalf of Hamas, as Jans explains.

According to Jans, the Federal Council expects three main goals of banning the organization:

1. “A preventive and repressive effect”, reducing the risk faced by Hamas and affiliated organizations Switzerland as a refuge to use. Also the This should reduce the terrorist threat in Switzerland become.

2. It would also be easier for law enforcement authorities Entry bans or deportations function.

3. And the ban allows the authorities to take more targeted action against Hamas supporters. For financial intermediaries, the ban leads to more legal certainty in the fight against terrorist financing.

Response on October 7

Fighters from the Islamist Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, attacked Israel on October 7, killing nearly 1,200 people and kidnapping 250. The victims included two Swiss citizens. Jans speaks of a “brutal terrorist attack” that has already been strongly condemned several times by the Federal Council.

In response to the attack, the Federal Council classified Hamas as a terrorist organization. This means that acts of support for Hamas are punishable by up to 10 years in prison and people who “have significant influence” in the organizations by up to 20 years. The ban is now one appropriate response to the terrorist actsays Jans.

Freedom of expression is not affected

The ban is not a paradigm shift; Al-Qaeda and IS are also banned in Switzerland. Freedom of expression is not affected by the ban – this way you can continue to demonstrate for the ‘Palestinian cause’, Jans said. The Federal Council explains that it becomes problematic if people make anti-Semitic statements or directly support terrorist violence or Hamas.

Both the States and the National Council had called for a ban on Hamas during the winter session by accepting the motions of their security policy committees.

Both committees had alleged that Hamas had completely discredited itself as an interlocutor with its inhumane attack on Israel in early October. It can only be described as a ruthless terrorist organization. That is why a clear positioning of Switzerland is important.

Because the ban would have far-reaching consequences for affected organizations, groups and people, the law is limited to five years, the Federal Council writes. However, Parliament could extend this period. The consultation will last until May 28. (jam/sda)