The British government says it will try hard to keep Palestinian resistance movement Hamas on the EU blacklist, despite a high court ruling for its removal.The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) announced Wednesday that the decision by the EUs top court will not lead to a revision of Londons pro-Israeli position regarding the popular Palestinian resistance group.
We are studying the detail of the judgment carefully, and will work with partners to ensure that the Hamas listing at the EU is maintained, said an FCO spokesperson.
She further asserted that the courts decision is merely procedural and void of meaningful implications.
Todays EU General Court judgment is procedural and does not mean the EU and UK have changed their position on Hamas. The effects of the EU Hamas listing, including asset freezes, remain in place, she added.
Following the EU court decision, a number of other Western countries also reacted to the decision.
Another top supporter of the Israeli regime, the United States, also called on the EU to keep up its sanctions against the Palestinian resistance movement. The US State Departments spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Washington is not considering any shift in its long-time policy toward Hamas.
Meanwhile, Hamas attorney Liliane Glock has been quoted as describing the EU courts decision as satisfying.
She added that every decision since 2001 imposing restrictive measures, including on the armed wing, have been annulled. I believe that this judgment shows the whole world that it exists and is legal.
On December 27, 2001, the Council of the European Union (EU) added Hamas Izz al-Din al-Qassem brigades to its blacklist as the terrorist wing of Hamas, Hamas was added two years later.
The recent court judgment revealed that the EU decision to designate Hamas as a terrorist group had been based on factual imputations derived from the press and the internet, not on reviewing of movement actions.
By Press TV
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