A bureaucratic ‘technicallity’ has now let a deadly terrorist group, Hamas, off the hook, leaving Israel in further danger. One shouldn’t be surprised if Israel has to act alone in another military strike to keep its boundary areas safe.
A leading court said the EU’s decision to keep Hamas on the terrorist list was not based on action. The European General Court said its ruling on Dec. 17 was technical rather than an assessment of Hamas.
“The court stresses that those annulments, on fundamental procedural grounds, do not imply any substantive assessment of the question of the classification of Hamas as a terrorist group within the meaning of the common position,” the General Court said.
In 2001, the EU placed Hamas, which pledged to destroy Israel, on the terror list. But the court said the designation was based on media reports rather than “acts examined and confirmed in decisions of competent authorities.”
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The court’s decision, coming two months after it annulled the EU’s designation of Sri Lanka’s Tamir Tigers, had been expected. Over the last few years, the court dismissed the EU’s designation of Hamas-linked charity, Al Aqsa Foundation. In mid-2014, Hamas fired 4,700 missiles and rockets in its 50-day war with Israel.
“Removing the terrorist designation of Hamas is a grave mistake,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “Hamas is a ruthless terrorist organization with a proven track record of brutal terror attacks against innocent civilians.”
Full article: EU court orders removal of Hamas from terrorism list (World Tribune)
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