CAIRO // An Egyptian court declared Hamas a “terrorist organisation” on Saturday, further isolating the rulers of Gaza who once found a warm welcome under the country’s previous government.
The ruling by Judge Mohamed El Sayed of the Court For Urgent Matters described Hamas as targeting both civilians and security forces inside Egypt’s restive Sinai Peninsula and aiming to harm the country. The Sinai has been under increasing attack by militants since the Egyptian military ousted President Mohammed Morsi in 2013.
“It has been proven without any doubt that the movement has committed acts of sabotage, assassinations and the killing of innocent civilians and members of the armed forces and police in Egypt,” the judge’s ruling said, according to state news agency MENA.
It comes just days after Egypt adopted a new antiterrorism law allowing the authorities to close the premises of any declared “terrorist” organisation, and to freeze its assets as well as those of its members.
Hamas’ assets in Egypt have been frozen since March last year, when Cairo also banned the group from carrying out any activities on its soil.
An Egyptian court also banned Hamas’ military wing, the Izzedine Al Qassam Brigades, on January 31 and designated it a terrorist organisation.
In Gaza, Hamas official Mushir Al Masri condemned the latest decision and urged Egypt to reverse course.
“This ruling serves the Israeli occupation. It’s a politicised decision that constitutes the beginning of Egypt evading its role toward the Palestinian cause,” he said. “This is a coup against history and an Egyptian abuse of the Palestinian cause and resistance, which fights on behalf of the Arab nation. We call on Egypt to reconsider this dangerous decision.”
The ruling further isolates Hamas, which once found open support under Morsi and from his now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group. Egypt’s new government has recently begun clearing a buffer zone along its border with Gaza in an attempt to destroy a cross-border network of tunnels that Hamas considers a lifeline.
The Cairo court said that Hamas’ fighters had used heavy weapons against the army, and was colluding with the Brotherhood.
“It has been also ascertained with documents that [Hamas] has carried out bombings that have taken lives and destroyed institutions and targeted civilians and the armed forces personnel,” the ruling said. “It has also been ascertained that this movement works for the interests of the terrorist Brotherhood organisation.”
* Associated Press with additional reporting by Agence France-Presse