Hamas and Yemen’s Supreme Political Council have strongly condemned the British government’s decision to ban the Palestinian resistance movement as a terrorist organization which could see supporters of the group punished with 14 years in prison.
Khalil al-Hayya, deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, said the UK’s move will not change the fact that Israel is an occupying regime and that the Palestinian nation is living under occupation.
Hayya added that Britain’s decision would provide the Tel Aviv regime a reward for killing ordinary Palestinians, particularly women and children.
“We are not ashamed to say that we are resisting the (Israeli) occupation. Resistance is a right guarantee in accordance with international law and regulations,” the senior Hamas official said.
He called on the British parliament not to pass the resolution as it would increase the suffering of the Palestinian people.
On Friday, British Home Secretary Priti Patel announced the move to bring Britain into line with the United States, which designated Hamas a terror group in 1995, and the European Union.
Parliament will vote on the proposals next week and if successful, could become effective from next Friday.
Hayya pointed out that Hamas will raise the issue with freedom-loving people across the globe and will reach out to influential figures in Britain, emphasizing “there is no political path that would ensure our rights, and we refuse interference in our affairs.”
The Hamas leader said Britain will bear the brunt of terrorism that the Israeli regime is practicing against Palestinian people.
“We had hoped that Britain would not commit a new crime against the Palestinian nation following the (1917) Balfour Declaration,” which led to creation of Israel, Hayya commented.
The Balfour Declaration came in the form of a letter from Britain’s then-foreign secretary, Arthur Balfour, addressed to Lionel Walter Rothschild, a figurehead of the British Jewish community. It was published on November 2, 1917.
The declaration was made during World War I (1914-1918), and was included in the terms of the British Mandate for Palestine after the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire.
It is widely seen as the precursor to the 1948 Palestinian Nakba, when Zionist armed paramilitary groups, who were trained and created to fight side by side with the British in World War II, forcibly expelled more than 750,000 Palestinians from their homeland.
Hayya stated that Hamas receives popular and international support, won an overwhelming victory in 2006 legislative elections, and the resistance movement enjoys strong support of the Palestinian society.
He said political initiatives aimed at establishment of the inalienable rights of Palestinian people are being met with the Israeli regime’s obstruction.
Hayya stressed that Hamas leaders have met and held talks with European political leaders, and the latter have unfortunately confirmed that there is no light at the end of the tunnel and no prospect for a so-called two-state solution to the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“We hope to obtain our rights without any bloodshed. However, there is no one in the world to have won their freedom without resistance. Britain will bear the brunt of any Israeli escalation as a result of its decision,” the top Hamas official said.
‘Nor surprising’
Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of Yemen’s Supreme Political Council, censured the UK’s move to designate Hamas as a terror group.
“The decision is not surprising at all as Britain is the founder of the (Israeli) occupation. The move coincides with the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, and underscores Britain’s continued support for the criminal regime,” Houthi said.
