Egypt: court bans Hamas armed group

The Cairo Appeals Court for Urgent Matters on Jan. 31 banned and declared the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades to be a terrorist group. Qassam Brigades is the armed branch of Hamas, which is itself an offshoot of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood. The ruling is based on allegations by Egyptian officials that Qassam Brigades played a role in the bombing attacks on the Sinai Peninsula last October, and that members have been smuggling weapons from the Gaza Strip into Egypt. Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri described the verdict  as a "dangerous" promotion of Israel's occupation of Palestine.

From Jurist, Jan. 31. Used with permission.

Egypt court declares Hamas a terrorist group

The Cairo Court for Urgent Matters ruled Feb. 28 that the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas is a terrorist organization. The decision was based on lawsuits alleging that Hamas is responsible for multiple attacks against Egyptian security forces, which have resulted in casualties and deaths. Hamas official Mushir al-Masri condemned the decision, calling it "a coup against history and an Egyptian abuse of the Palestinian cause and resistance, which fights on behalf of the Arab nation." Hamas is an offshoot of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood.

From Jurist, Feb. 28. Used with permission.