Middle East Parliament adopts federal law banning Hamas

Parliament is in favor of the new federal law banning Hamas. After the Council of States, the National Council also approved the bill on Wednesday.

In the overall vote, the large chamber adopted the law by 168 votes to 6 with 14 abstentions. The Council of States had already agreed to the bill on Tuesday. The matter is now ready for the final vote.

With this bill, the Federal Council is implementing a mandate from Parliament. Following the massacres in southern Israel on 7 October 2023, the federal government and both chambers of parliament had spoken out in favour of banning the radical Islamic Palestinian terrorist organization.

The Federal Council's draft provides for Hamas and related organizations to be banned for an initial period of five years. Parliament has the option of extending the ban in the ordinary legislative procedure.

Only the Al-Qaeda and IS groups are currently banned by law in Switzerland. Following the adoption of the Hamas ban, it will be up to the Federal Council to decide on the exact date of entry into force.

Also on the National Council's agenda on Wednesday was a committee motion calling for a ban on the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah. However, due to a lack of time, the motion was not dealt with in the large chamber. The Council of States had approved an identical motion on Tuesday.