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Hamas hails EU legal adviser’s blacklist removal remarks

September 24, 2016 at 12:06 pm

Hamas, the Palestinian governors of the Gaza Strip, hailed the advice of the advocate-general at the European Court of Justice, Eleanor Sharpston, which stated that Hamas should be removed from the European Union’s (EU) blacklist, the Felesteen newspaper reported.

Speaking yesterday, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said: “We hail the advice of the advocate of the EU Court of Justice and call for the EU to commit to it.”

Abu Zuhri added that Hamas’ removal from the EU’s blacklist would contribute to the EU purifying itself from the sin of taking the side of the Israeli occupation against the Palestinians.

Sharpston said on Thursday that the EU “cannot rely on facts and evidence found in press articles and information from the internet, rather than in decisions of competent authorities, to support a decision to maintain a listing” about Hamas.

The EU adopted regulations to combat terrorism in the wake of the 11 September 2001 terror attacks against the US. Under the regulations, the EU imposed travel bans and asset freezes against Hamas and many other groups across the globe.

At the end of 2014, AP reported that the General Court of the European Union ruled that Hamas should be removed from list of terrorist organisations, saying the decision to include it was based on media reports not considered analysis.

In March 2015, AFP reported that the EU kept Hamas on its blacklist despite the court decision above that ordered Brussels to remove Hamas from the register.