Egypt bans Hamas, labels it a terrorist organization

World Today

An Egyptian court has banned the armed-wing of Hamas and labeled it a terror organization. Hamas is linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamic group which supports ousted leader Mohamed Morsi.
The Muslim Brotherhood has also been banned in Egypt. The ruling comes just days after a series of daily raids in the Sinai Peninsula. CCTV’s Yassir Hakim reported this story from Cairo.

The court verdict on Hamas armed wing Al Qasam Brigade is not the first of its kind.

In 2014, Hamas itself was branded a terrorist group by another court in Cairo.

Hamas’ first major direct confrontation with Egypt was during the 2011 uprising.

Its members broke into Egyptian jails, killed police guards and set free muslim brotherhood leaders including former president Morsi.

Morsi is on trial now for the incident and has admitted to Hamas interference.

But the real cause of constant friction with Egyptian authorities are the tunnels with Gaza.

“Due to family bonds between Palestinians and Egyptians in the area the number of tunnels substantially increased but tunnels became illegal because it is used to smuggle fuel and drugs and for terrorists to infiltrate from Gaza to north Sinai,” Ahmed Samy, Researcher, Ahram Center for strategic studies said.

Since Hosni Mubarak’s rule, Egypt continuously failed to destroy the tunnels.

In 2014, Civilians living on the borders were evacuated, to create a one kilometer buffer zone and locate the hidden tunnels. Yet militants are still able to infiltrate from Gaza.

The Sinai Province group, which claimed responsibility for Thursday’s attack on the Egyptian army, said it was masterminded by militants who crossed the borders into Egypt 2 months ago.

“Egyptians are blaming the leadership here for not ending terrorism quickly and are pointing fingers to Ezzedin Qasam Brigade for being implicated in militant attacks thus the latest court verdict branding it a terrorist organisation,” Samy said.

Egypt has also demanding Hamas handover wanted militants in Gaza, accused of carrying out operations against the Egyptian army. Hamas has denied any links to them.

As long as tunnels are open and smuggling continues from Gaza, Egypt will remain defiant and continue to crackdown on militants including Hamas members.