Hundreds of police officers searched the properties of Hamas members and followers in Germany on Thursday morning following an official ban on any activity by or in support of the terror group.
The German government implemented the ban on November 2 and dissolved Samidoun, the group behind the celebration in Berlin of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
Germany’s domestic intelligence service estimates that Hamas has about 450 members in the country.
Their activities range from expressions of sympathy and propaganda activities to financing and fundraising activities to strengthen organizations abroad.
“We are continuing our consistent action against radical Islam,” said German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. “By banning Hamas and Samidoun in Germany, we have sent a clear signal that we will not tolerate any glorification or support of Hamas’ barbaric violence against Israel.”
The raids, which took place mostly in Berlin, were aimed at enforcing the ban and to further investigate the group, Germany’s interior ministry said in a statement.
Hundreds of police officers searched the properties of Hamas members and followers in Germany following a ban on any activity or support for the group. Reuters
A total of 16 properties were searched by 500 police officers in Berlin and the states of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Schleswig-Holstein.
In Berlin alone, over 300 police officers searched 11 locations to seize evidence and assets.
Seven searches related to Hamas and four to Samidoun.
Germany’s domestic intelligence service estimates that Hamas has about 450 members in the country. REUTERS “By banning Hamas and Samidoun in Germany, we have sent a clear signal that we will not tolerate any glorification or support of Hamas’ barbaric violence against Israel,” said German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. ZUMAPRESS.com
Searches were carried out mainly in the homes of supporters and the premises of Palestinian associations, the German news agency DPA reported.
Germany has clamped down on groups that support antisemitism following the latest Israel-Hamas war.
Keep up with the news on the Israel-Hamas war and the surge in global antisemitism with The Post’s Israel War Updates, delivered straight to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
On Tuesday, police raided the homes of 17 people in the southern German state of Bavaria accused of spreading hate speech and antisemitic threats targeting Jews online.
On November 16, German police raided 54 locations across the country in an investigation into a Hamburg-based organization suspected of promoting the ideology of the Iranian leadership and possibly supporting Hezbollah’s activities in Germany.
Germany has cracked down on groups advocating antisemitism in the months following the Israel-Hamas war. Reuters
“We’re keeping a close eye on the Islamist scene,” Faeser said. “Muslims and antisemites cannot and cannot feel safe anywhere here.”
He said Hamas members and supporters in Germany are also committed to influencing political and social discourse in the country.
Hamas has vowed to destroy Israel and has been responsible for numerous suicide bombings and other deadly attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers.
16 properties were searched by 500 police officers in Berlin and other areas of Germany. FILIP SINGER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The raid was aimed at enforcing the ban and to further investigate the group, according to Germany’s interior ministry. Reuters
After the group’s invasion of Israel in October, Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas.
The US State Department designated Hamas as a terrorist group in 1997.
The European Union and other Western countries also consider it a terrorist organization.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
