Gaza, ALRAY - British House of Commons approved the memorandum of UK Home Secretary Priti Patel outlawing support to the Palestinian movement Hamas and labeling its political wing a terrorist organization.
The law could become effective starting on Friday.
Showing support to the Islamist group could carry with it a punishment of up to 14 years in prison, or raising its flag or slogans.
House of Common discussed on Wednesday the memorandum that was agreed upon but without voting, the members have to submit an objection to be vote on it.
Middle east eye quoted sources in Labor Party as saying that raising objections to such a memorandum is highly politically sensitive.
Sources in the left wing of the party said opposing outlawing Hamas is a right decision, doing so publicly would stigmatize whoever does it.
Representative Nick Thomas Symonds, representative of the Labor Party, announced his support for the ban on Hamas.
Patel argued that an outright ban under the Terrorism Act of 2000 is necessary because it is not possible to distinguish between Hamas’ political and military wings.
Concerns were raised during discussing the decision in the House of Commons because it will affect the efforts to facilitate dialogue between the various powers in the Middle East, as well as on the role of the British Government in supporting humanitarian work in Gaza Strip.
The ruling Conservative Party MP, Crispin Blunt, said that the Palestinian people have the right to resist, noting that the Israeli military targets are legitimate targets according to international law, adding that banning Hamas will have a dampening effect on this right.
The British Home Secretary Priti Patel had announced a few days ago that she had submitted a memorandum in Parliament to amend Chapter Two of the Terrorism Act of 2000 to ban Hamas entirely, including its political wing, and classify it as terrorist.
The British decision was strongly and broadly condemned by the Palestinian forces and factions. Hamas said it would take a broad move to address it, stressing that the resistance leadership is the one who determines the methods of confrontation with the occupation.
