Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser today banned the terrorist organisation HAMAS and the international organisation Samidoun – Palestinian Solidarity Network from all activity in Germany. The federal minister also banned the sub-organisation Samidoun Deutschland, which also operates under the names "HIRAK – Palestinian Youth Mobilization Jugendbewegung (Germany)" and "Hirak e.V.", and ordered it dissolved.

Federal Minister Faeser said, "Today, I banned all activity in Germany by HAMAS, a terrorist organisation whose aim is to destroy the State of Israel. Samidoun is an international network which disseminates anti-Israel and anti-Jewish propaganda while claiming to promote solidarity with prisoners in different countries. Samidoun also supported and glorified various foreign terrorist organisations, including HAMAS.

"With its spontaneous ‘celebrations’ here in Germany following the horrific terrorist attacks by HAMAS in Israel, Samidoun revealed its antisemitism and absolute lack of regard for human life in an especially abhorrent way.

"Banning the activity of HAMAS and Samidoun, and dissolving Samidoun Deutschland, will put a stop to such demonstrations of hate in Germany.

"There is no place in Germany for antisemitism – no matter the source. We will continue to fight every form of antisemitism by applying the full force of the law."

HAMAS’ actions in Germany violate criminal law and are opposed to the concept of international understanding as referred to in Article 9 (2) of Germany’s constitution, the Basic Law (Grundgesetz). The purpose or activity of HAMAS also harms significant interests of the Federal Republic of Germany (section 14 (2) no. 1, fourth variant, of the Act Governing Private Associations (Vereinsgesetz)).

The organisation Samidoun – Palestinian Solidarity Network, including its sub-organisation Samidoun Deutschland, which also operates under the names “HIRAK – Palestinian Youth Mobilization Jugendbewegung (Germany)” and “Hirak e.V.”, meets the requirements for a ban given in Article 9 (2) of the Basic Law and section 3 (1) sentence 1, section 14 (1) and section 14 (2) of the Act Governing Private Associations. Specifically, this means that Samidoun

• opposes the concept of international understanding;
  
• prevents and jeopardises peaceful relations between German citizens and resident non-citizens as well as among different groups of non-citizens in the federal territory, as well as public safety and order and other important interests of the Federal Republic of Germany;
  
• endorses the use of violence as a means for achieving its political objectives and incites such violence; and
  
• supports organisations which initiate, endorse or threaten attacks on individuals or property.