GAZA, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), The Hamas Movement condemned the European Union Council’s decision to expand sanctions on political leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, including members of Hamas’s political bureau, calling the move unjust and fully aligned with Israel’s narrative.
In a statement on Saturday, Hamas said the decision comes as Israel continues its genocide, starvation and forced displacement of Palestinians, while repeatedly violating the ceasefire agreement.
The Movement said the EU was ignoring documented Israeli violations of international law while punishing political leaders defending the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights.
Hamas said attempts to criminalize Palestinian resistance would not change the fact that Palestinians remain under occupation, adding that resistance is a legitimate right under the international law.
It called on the EU to review such biased policies, stop providing political cover for Israel and hold Israeli leaders accountable instead of targeting Palestinians.
The EU Council decided on May 28 to broaden sanctions on Hamas and Islamic Jihad to include members of Hamas’s political bureau, following a political agreement reached by EU foreign ministers on May 11.
The new measures added 10 Hamas political bureau members to the sanctions list, bringing the total under this framework to 21 individuals and three entities. The sanctions include travel bans to EU countries, asset freezes and a ban on providing funds or economic resources to those listed.
