NEW DELHI: Amid its ongoing effort to clear out the Gaza Strip of Hamas, Israel continues to press India for the group’s designation as a terrorist organisation. The immediate provocation on this occasion for seeking its listing as a terror group is the presence of several Hamas leaders in POK last month on “Kashmir Solidarity Day“.
This was possibly the first time that Hamas leaders, who were joined by members of UN proscribed terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), travelled to POK. Israel is learnt to have discussed this with the Indian authorities. Despite its unqualified support for Israel on terrorism, and strong condemnation of the October 7 2023 terror attacks on Israel, India has not banned Hamas, even as many countries, including the US and EU, have designated it as a terrorist organisation.
In 2023, Israel had banned Pakistan-based LeT, which carried out the Mumbai attacks. Israel’s then ambassador to India Naor Gilon had expressed hope India too would proscribe Hamas, saying information about the group’s terrorist activities had been shared with Indian govt.
Whether or not there’s a proposal to ban Hamas is a question that has also been raised in Indian Parliament, but external affairs ministry has responded so by only saying that designation of an organisation as terrorist is covered under UAPA and is considered as per provisions of the Act by relevant govt departments.
In a fine balancing act, India, while backing Israel’s right to defend itself from terrorism, has continued to maintain its ties with Palestinian people, reiterating support for a negotiated two-state solution, and establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine within secure and recognised borders, living side by side in peace with Israel. India also supports Palestine’s membership of the UN.
