Draft law

Switzerland wants to ban Hamas for five years

The ban will initially apply for five years. Hamas-related organizations are also affected. In the picture: a supporter of the Palestinian organization(Bild: AFP)

Following Germany and many other countries, Switzerland also wants to ban the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas, which is active in the Gaza Strip.

The bill still has to go through parliament. The ban will initially apply for five years. Organizations related to Hamas are also affected.

The government passed a corresponding bill on Wednesday.

"Such a law will give the federal authorities the necessary instruments to take action against any Hamas activities or support for the organization in Switzerland," the government stated when announcing the draft legislation in November.

Hamas and other Palestinian organizations are held responsible for the massacre in Israel on 7 October 2023. The terrorists killed more than 1,200 people and abducted 250 others in the coastal strip.