German police with operation on the properties of Hamas supporters in Berlin and all over the country

2023-11-23 11:50:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

German police with operation on the properties of Hamas supporters in Berlin and

Hundreds of police officers searched the properties of Hamas members and followers in Germany on Thursday morning, following an official ban on any activity by or in support of the militant group.

The German government on November 2 banned and disbanded the Samidoun group, which was behind a celebration in Berlin of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

The German intelligence service estimates that Hamas has about 450 members in the country. Their activities range from expressions of sympathy and propaganda activities to fundraising and fundraising activities to strengthen the organization abroad.

"We are continuing our operation against radical Islamists," said German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. "By banning Hamas and the Samidoun group in Germany, we have sent a clear signal that we will not tolerate any glorification or support of Hamas's barbaric terror against Israel."

The raids, which mostly took place in Berlin, were aimed at enforcing the ban and further investigating the groups, the German interior ministry said in a statement.

A total of 15 properties were searched in Berlin and in the states of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein.

In Berlin alone, more than 300 police officers conducted searches in 11 locations to seize evidence and assets. Seven controls were linked to Hamas and four to the Samidoun group. The checks were carried out mainly at the homes of supporters and at the premises of a Palestinian association, the German news agency dpa reported.

Germany has been fighting groups that support anti-Semitism after the most recent Israel-Hamas war.

On Tuesday, police raided the homes of 17 people in the southern German state of Bavaria on charges of spreading anti-Semitic hate speech and online threats targeting Jews. On November 16, German police raided 54 sites across the country in an investigation into a Hamburg-based organization suspected of promoting the ideology of the Iranian leadership and possibly supporting Hezbollah's activities in Germany.

"We are closely monitoring the Islamic scene," said Minister Faeser. "Islamists and anti-Semites cannot and should not feel safe anywhere here." She said that Hamas members and supporters in Germany are also committed to influencing political and social discourse in the country.

Hamas has vowed to destroy Israel and is responsible for many suicide bombings and other deadly attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers. After the group's intervention in Israel in October, Israel vowed to eradicate Hamas.

The US State Department declared Hamas a terrorist group in 1997. The European Union and other Western countries also consider it a terrorist organization./ VOA