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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Wednesday that his country has no intention of building a nuclear weapon and even opened the door to potential U.S. economic involvement, should a nuclear agreement be reached.

His remarks came ahead of anticipated negotiations in Oman this past weekend concerning Iran’s controversial nuclear ambitions. The talks follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to office and his ongoing warnings that he would take military action against Iran to stop it from acquiring nuclear arms if needed.

“We are not after a nuclear bomb,” Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a speech in Tehran. “You [in the West] have verified it 100 times. Do it 1,000 times again.”

Despite its denials, Iran — which has openly vowed to eliminate Israel — has significantly increased its uranium enrichment, reaching 60 percent purity, a level that has no civilian use and is widely seen as a step toward weapons-grade material. The regime has also restricted access to its nuclear sites by international inspectors.

Pezeshkian added that “his excellency has no opposition to investment by American investors in Iran,” referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “American investors: Come and invest.”

This proposal marks a notable shift from Tehran’s previous posture following the 2015 nuclear accord, when Iran attempted to purchase U.S.-made aircraft but did not allow broader American commercial entry into its markets.

Such an offer could be appealing to President Trump, who pulled out of the 2015 agreement during his first administration and has made clear he is pursuing a new deal with Tehran.

Pezeshkian, elected last year on a promise to strengthen ties with Western countries, also said that the discussions scheduled for Saturday in Oman between Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff would be “indirectly” conducted.

The upcoming negotiations were first disclosed by Trump on Monday. He has repeatedly said he’s willing to order strikes against Iran if it refuses to come to terms and has described the discussions as direct — a possibility Iran has not entirely dismissed following initial engagement.

Still, Iranian officials told Reuters on Tuesday that Tehran is approaching the Oman talks with caution, expressing deep distrust of U.S. motives and minimal hope that the negotiations will lead to real progress.

{Matzav.com}

Slightly more Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, but the labor market remains broadly healthy despite an ongoing trade war. Jobless claim filings inched up by 4,000 to 223,000 for the week ending April 5, the Labor Department said Thursday. That’s less than the 225,000 new applications analysts forecast. Weekly applications for jobless benefits are considered a proxy for layoffs, and have mostly ping-ponged between 200,000 and 250,000 for the past few years. Even though President Donald Trump put a 90-day pause on most of his widespread tariff hikes Wednesday, concerns remain about a global economic slowdown that could upend what has been an incredibly resilient labor market. Like his pledge to institute tariffs, Trump’s promise to drastically downsize the federal government workforce is fully in motion. It’s not clear when the job cuts ordered by the Department of Government Efficiency — or “DOGE,” spearheaded by Elon Musk — will surface in the weekly layoffs data, Federal agencies that have either announced layoffs or are planning cuts include the Department of Health and Human Services, IRS, Small Business Administration, Veterans Affairs and Department of Education. Despite showing some signs of weakening during the past year, the labor market remains healthy with plentiful jobs and relatively few layoffs. Last week, the government reported that U.S. employers added a surprisingly strong 228,000 jobs in March and while the unemployment rate inched up to 4.2%, that’s a healthy figure by historical standards. Some high-profile companies have announced job cuts already this year, including Workday, Dow, CNN, Starbucks, Southwest Airlines and Facebook parent company Meta. The four-week average of applications, which aims to smooth out some of the week-to-week swings, was unchanged at 223,000. The total number of Americans receiving unemployment benefits for the week of March 29 fell by 43,000 to 1.85 million. (AP)

House Republicans narrowly passed a long-awaited budget framework on Thursday, finally paving the way for them to begin crafting President Trump’s ambitious legislative proposal, often referred to as his “big, beautiful” agenda.

The budget plan was approved in a tight 216–214 vote, with Republican Representatives Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Victoria Spartz of Indiana breaking ranks and voting against the resolution.

Although this represents a crucial procedural step forward, internal party divisions over federal spending levels continue to pose major challenges for advancing Trump’s signature policies.

“We want to make sure we’re delivering on our shared goals in the budget resolution process,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said to reporters before the vote. “Our two chambers are directly aligned also on a very important principle: And that is the principle of fiscal responsibility.”

“We’re going to protect the essential programs for everybody that’s eligible to receive those.”

In order to begin the reconciliation process—which allows for legislation to pass the Senate with a simple majority and sidestep a Democratic filibuster—both chambers of Congress had to approve the same budget resolution.

With Republicans holding 53 seats in the Senate, the reconciliation path is crucial to enacting Trump’s legislative priorities on tax reform, energy expansion, military funding, and securing the border.

The Senate had already signed off on the compromise resolution the week before.

For weeks, House and Senate Republicans had been locked in a standoff over how aggressively to slash government spending in the budget blueprint that would support Trump’s key initiatives.

Unable to reach a unified stance quickly, the Senate moved ahead with its own version last week, which included dual sets of reconciliation instructions: one aligned with the House’s earlier February plan calling for at least $1.5 trillion in reductions, and another far less aggressive option that proposed just $4 billion in cuts tailored specifically for the Senate.

{Matzav.com}

Chabad Headquarters marked the 123rd birthday of the Rebbe—with Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky announcing the next round of thirty-five new Shluchim couples who will be supported with seed grants to expand the Rebbe’s life’s work in some of the most unexpected corners of the world. From Mykonos to Kenya, West Adams to Tanzania, they are planting seeds of Jewish life—some where Jewish infrastructure once existed, others where it never did. Each of these couples is receiving seed funding from Keren Hashluchim to help establish new Chabad centers and build Jewish communities, carrying forward a vision that has, for generations, redefined what it means to be there for another Jew. Yud Aleph Nissan has long served as a catalyst for expansion. In 1972, on the Rebbe’s 70th birthday, the Rebbe famously requested that Chassidim establish 71 new institutions—one for each year. It was a transformative moment. The Rebbe personally contributed ten percent of the initial costs for each project, and reports streamed in from across the world as schools, mikvahs, and Chabad Houses were launched in response. Wednesday’s initiative builds on that same momentum. “Today, as many Jews face uncertainty, despair, and disconnection, these new Shluchim are offering the opposite: stability, hope, and belonging,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Director of the International Conference of Shluchim, and oversees the New Shluchim department of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch. “This Yud Aleph Nissan, as antisemitism rises and more Jews feel isolated, the Rebbe’s response continues to guide us: build. The answer is always to build—more light, more connection, more Jewish homes in the places they’re needed most.” The initiative also follows through on a commitment made by Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, who announced at the Kinus Hashluchos last year that Keren Hashluchim would fund 100 new Shluchim couples, this is the second segment announced bringing the total to 85 so far. After being approved by the board of Merkos, many of the couples have already begun laying down roots. Rabbi Michoel and Hindy Zajac are now in West Adams, a historic Los Angeles neighborhood where Jewish life once thrived in the early 20th century but has since faded, leaving beautiful old synagogues derelict. But Rabbi Michoel Zajac, together with his wife Hindy, recipients of the grant, have been working hard to change that. “While preparing for our permanent move to West Adams, we’ve spent the past few months going door-to-door and have connected with over 80 Jewish people in the area,” Michoel shares. “Located just outside the Los Angeles eruv, West Adams has the potential to return to its past as a bustling Jewish community. We aim to develop the Jewish infrastructure needed to make that happen and to provide a home for the many Yidden already living here. Especially in these challenging times for the Jewish community, the Jews we’ve met have been grateful to be welcomed by Chabad, and we are honored to do our part for the Rebbe’s greater vision.” Over ten thousand miles away, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Rabbi Shimon Menachem and Chana Aziza are working to meet a very real need—one that has never been addressed in the country’s history: building the first-ever mikvah. “We’ve seen a deep thirst among the Jews here to reconnect to their identity,” said Rabbi Aziza. “There are around 150 Jews living permanently in Tanzania, plus […]

The European Union’s top governing body announced Thursday that it would freeze its planned retaliation against new U.S. tariffs for a period of 90 days, aligning its response with President Donald Trump’s decision to temporarily suspend the tariffs. The pause is aimed at allowing space for talks that could lead to a diplomatic resolution.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that the Commission, which oversees trade for all 27 EU nations, “took note of the announcement by President Trump.”

She stated that the EU would delay the imposition of tariffs on $23 billion worth of American goods for 90 days, explaining that the decision was made because “we want to give negotiations a chance.”

However, she cautioned that this delay is not indefinite: “If negotiations are not satisfactory, our countermeasures will kick in.”

Trump recently instituted a 20% tariff on European imports, part of a wider campaign of trade restrictions aimed at addressing U.S. trade imbalances. He announced, however, that these would be paused for three months to enable discussions with affected countries.

While von der Leyen expressed appreciation for Trump’s move to suspend most of the new tariffs, she refrained from confirming whether the EU would follow through with its planned retaliatory tariffs. “I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE,” Trump said, referencing over 75 nations that had entered trade negotiations with the U.S. without retaliating against his latest tariff hikes. During this pause, countries covered by the suspension will face a 10% tariff. The EU’s initial tariff rate was 20%, though it’s unclear exactly how the 27-member bloc will be affected.

Notably, China was excluded from the pause, and Trump raised tariffs on Chinese imports to a staggering 125%.

Von der Leyen referred to the suspension of retaliatory tariffs as “an important step towards stabilizing the global economy. Clear, predictable conditions are essential for trade and supply chains to function.”

Prior to Trump’s announcement on Wednesday, EU nations had voted to enact their own tariffs targeting $23 billion worth of U.S. goods, in response to his 25% duties on imported steel and aluminum. The EU had criticized those measures as “unjustified and damaging.”

The EU’s tariffs were designed to roll out in phases, with certain levies taking effect on April 15, others on May 15, and the final batch on December 1. The European Commission has yet to disclose the full list of impacted products. In recent weeks, the bloc’s lead trade negotiator has been making frequent trips between Brussels and Washington in an attempt to prevent a major trade fallout.

Despite Trump’s pause, von der Leyen has not indicated any change in the EU’s timeline. Commission spokesperson Olof Gill said that the EU “will now take the necessary time to assess this latest development, in close consultation with our member states and industry, before deciding on next steps.”

EU countries reiterated their preference for a negotiated solution to the growing trade dispute. Von der Leyen reaffirmed that goal, stating the EU seeks a resolution “with the goal of achieving frictionless and mutually beneficial trade.”

Nevertheless, von der Leyen emphasized that the EU remains committed to broadening its trade relationships globally.

She affirmed that the EU will continue “engaging with countries that account for 87% of global trade and share our commitment to a free and open exchange of goods, services, and ideas,” while also working to eliminate barriers to trade within its own internal market.

“Together, Europeans will emerge stronger from this crisis,” von der Leyen said.

{Matzav.com}

The European Union’s executive commission said Thursday it will put trade retaliation measures on hold for 90 days to match President Donald Trump’s pause on his sweeping new tariffs and leave room for a negotiated solution. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the commission, which handles trade for the bloc’s 27 member countries, “took note of the announcement by President Trump.” New tariffs on 20.9 billion euros ($23 billion) of US goods will be put on hold for 90 days because “we want to give negotiations a chance,” she said in a statement. But she warned: “If negotiations are not satisfactory, our countermeasures will kick in.” Trump imposed a 20% levy on goods from the EU as part of his onslaught of tariffs of 10% and upward against global trading partners but said Wednesday he will pause them for 90 days to give countries a chance to negotiate solutions to U.S. trade concerns. Countries subject to the pause will face Trump’s 10% baseline tariff. Before Trump’s announcement, EU member countries voted to approve a set of retaliatory tariffs on $23 billion in goods in response to his 25% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum that took effect in March. The EU, the largest trading partner of the U.S., described them as “unjustified and damaging.” The EU tariffs were set to go into effect in stages, some on April 15 and others on May 15 and Dec. 1. The EU commission didn’t immediately provide a list of the goods. Members of the EU — the world’s largest trading bloc — have said they prefer a negotiated deal to resolve a trade war that damages the economies on both sides. The bloc’s top trade official has shuttled between Brussels and Washington for weeks trying to head off a conflict. The EU has offered Trump a “zero for zero” deal in which both sides would eliminate tariffs on industrial goods including autos. Trump has said that’s not enough to answer U.S. concerns and raised the possibility of Europe buying large additional amounts of U.S. liquefied natural gas. The targeted goods are a tiny fraction of the 1.6 trillion euros ($1.8 trillion) in U.S.-EU annual trade. Some 4.4 billion euros in goods and services crosses the Atlantic each day in what the European Commission calls “the most important commercial relationship in the world.” The EU has targeted smaller lists of goods in hopes of exerting political pressure and avoiding economic damage from a wider escalation of tit-for-tat tariffs. The EU is also working on a further set of countermeasures in response to Trump’s blanket 20% tariff on all European goods, now suspended. That could include measures aimed at U.S. tech companies and the services sector as well as trade in goods. Still, von der Leyen said that Europe intends to diversify its trade partnerships. She said that the EU will continue “engaging with countries that account for 87% of global trade and share our commitment to a free and open exchange of goods, services, and ideas,” and to lift barriers to commerce inside its own single market. “Together, Europeans will emerge stronger from this crisis,” von der Leyen said. (AP)

U.S. markets tumbled sharply Thursday morning, reversing the dramatic upswing sparked by President Trump’s declaration of a three-month halt on most import tariffs.

By 10 a.m. Eastern Time, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had shed 836 points, a 2.1% drop, after an extraordinary leap of 2,962.86 points the day before — the biggest single-day point increase on record.

Meanwhile, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 also turned negative, retreating 2.7% and 3.3% respectively in the wake of Wednesday’s monumental rally.

The previous day saw Wall Street reach new heights, with the S&P 500 surging more than 9%, marking its third-largest daily percentage rise since World War II, and the Nasdaq Composite experiencing its second-strongest session in history.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF and Shin Bet confirmed Thursday that Haytham Sheikh Khalil, commander of Hamas’s Shuja’iyya Battalion, was killed in an airstrike on a Hamas command center in Gaza City. Khalil played a central role in the October 7 attack on Nahal Oz and was responsible for directing assaults on Israeli forces, as well as overseeing Hamas’s explosives and tunnel operations. He assumed command of the battalion following the deaths of its previous leaders. The IDF said the targeted strike was carried out based on precise intelligence and surveillance, stressing its efforts to minimize civilian harm. Meanwhile, Israeli ground forces expanded operations across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, with a major focus on the Tel al-Sultan and Shaboura neighborhoods of Rafah, as well as the Morag Corridor. Troops located and destroyed dozens of Hamas targets, including tunnel networks and other terrorist infrastructure. In northern Gaza, Israeli forces engaged and eliminated armed Hamas terrorists and dismantled a number of terror sites. The Israeli Air Force also carried out strikes on 35 Hamas positions that posed immediate threats to ground troops, the IDF said. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

‎Let’s be honest, the past months have been extremely painful for anyone who cares about the reputation of Jews. Sadly, the onslaught of antisemitism and outright bigotry leaves Jews and all people of goodwill shaking their heads in dismay and despair. While bigotry and allegations of impropriety seem to always carry itself at the speed of light, what is not shared or rarely discussed in the media is the everyday stories of compassion, generosity, and kindness that personifies our people. What you won’t see on WhatsApp, X, or Facebook is what’s really going on in the Orthodox Jewish community behind the salacious headlines. Morally questionable news sites ( I’m being kind) don’t seem to report on the tens of thousands of cases of potatoes, grape juice, and Pesach staples distributed without cost to needy parents with hungry children. Nor do agenda driven podcasts or blogs pay a drop of precious attention to the seismic economic impact communal charity funds have made on local economies despite the global market meltdown and stubborn inflation. To thousands of struggling people wishing to celebrate the Passover holiday with dignity, however, these campaigns and distributions are a real lifesaver. The numbers are indeed staggering and worthy of significant coverage, though few seem interested in reporting on the extraordinary good works the Orthodox Jewish community is renowned for. No surprises here. But while many of our own people have their heads buried in their smartphones, absorbing the days latest shmutz packaged as “breaking news”, tzedokah funds, pesach collections, supermarket gift card handouts, food distributions, Rabbeyim appreciation organizations, and shul maos chitim campaigns have dominated the communal landscape across the Jewish globe. From Johannesburg to Jerusalem, Flatbush to Far Rockaway, Lakewood to Los Angeles, Boro Park to Boca, and everywhere in between, Pesach distributions have been undertaken ‎to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. That’s millions! *Encouraged and guided by our Rabbonim and communal leaders, we have witnessed the dramatic emergence of multiple chessed organizations, and their impact in cities across the globe has been immense and immediate. Local Jewish communities have rallied together in common cause and in ways once seemingly unimaginable. It is our must vulnerable and neediest brethren who have benefited the most. But make no mistake, everyone has benefited from the renewed spirit of achdus.* And so with all of the materialism and purported flaws we often hear so much about, the Jewish community has stepped up in a way that matches the great chessed generations ‎of Jewish history past. More broadly, our incredible network of charitable givers includes the most prominent and generous baalei tzedokah Klal Yisroel may have ever known.bThese philanthropic heroes have collectively raised the bar to unparalleled heights in charity and good deeds. The beauty of it all is that it’s mostly done quietly and behind the headlines to spare the “have nots” from public embarrassment and humiliation.‎ In a world that remains fixated on flaws and imperfections and thrives on defamatory headlines, can you possibly think of a more important story to share? And yet it’s not even mentioned as an afterthought, even around our own tables. That should change immediately. Our children need genuine role models, humble heroes, and news stories that we can all be proud to share. ‎This is it. So dearest brothers […]

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed on Wednesday that Turkey is working with Israel at an operational level in Syria to ensure that military activities do not clash, according to Reuters.

His statement came after a spike in Israeli air raids within Syria, which Israeli authorities said were aimed at stopping a Turkish military operation in the area.

As reported by Reuters last week, Turkey had conducted reconnaissance missions over several airbases in Syria as part of early-stage plans for a possible joint defense strategy. Those same locations were later struck by Israel.

“While we are conducting certain operations in Syria, there needs to be a deconfliction mechanism with Israel, which flies aircraft in that region, similar to mechanisms we have with the U.S. and Russia,” Fidan said during an interview with CNN Turk on Wednesday.

He clarified that the communication between the two nations is purely logistical. “There are technical contacts to prevent combat elements from misunderstanding each other,” he explained, adding that such coordination occurs “when needed.”

Fidan was quick to point out that this coordination should not be seen as a step toward broader political engagement. “These talks are limited to deconfliction in Syria,” he stated.

Ankara has become increasingly vocal in condemning Israel’s military actions. Just last week, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry slammed Israel for its strikes on Hezbollah sites in Lebanon.

“These attacks have once again exposed Israel’s flagrant disregard for international law and its ongoing threat to the region’s security and stability. The international community must stand united against Israel’s efforts to create a perpetual state of conflict in the region,” the ministry said.

In a strongly worded rebuttal, Israel’s Foreign Ministry responded, “While violently suppressing his own citizens and carrying out mass arrests of political opponents, [President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan presumes to preach lofty values to the international community.”

“In Erdogan’s Turkey, there is no justice, no law, and no freedom. Israel does not need Erdogan’s ridiculous moral sermons. Israel acts to defend itself and its citizens against real threats and actual attacks — and it will continue to do so,” the statement added.

Since the war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, Turkish President Erdogan has ramped up his rhetoric against Israel. Prior to that date, both countries were in the process of mending their long-frayed relationship.

Most recently, Erdogan labeled Israel a “terror state” after it carried out a surprise assault on terrorist infrastructure in Gaza.

{Matzav.com}

Sinmyah Amera Ceasar, a 30-year-old U.S. citizen from Brooklyn, NY, was sentenced Wednesday to 230 months in federal prison—nearly 19 years—for recruiting people to join the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), obstructing justice, and failing to appear in court. Ceasar pleaded guilty to the three federal charges in 2017, 2019, and 2022, respectively. ISIS is officially designated as a terrorist organization by the United States government. “Today’s resentencing marks the end of a righteous journey that began a decade ago,” said Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department’s national security division. “Terrorist organizations like ISIS rely on recruiters like Ceasar to attract, indoctrinate and enlist new followers.” According to prosecutors, Ceasar operated under the alias “Mother of Nutella” on social media, using her platform to promote ISIS propaganda and encourage others to join the group. She continued to engage in extremist behavior even after initially pleading guilty to providing material support to ISIS. “An unrepentant ISIS recruiter, [Ceasar] will be incarcerated for a significant period of time to protect Americans here and abroad from her violent extremism,” said John Durham, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “Even after pleading guilty, the defendant continued to support terrorists, obstructed justice, and fled from prosecution.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Moscow freed a Russian American convicted of treason in exchange for a Russian-German man jailed on smuggling charges in the U.S., a prisoner swap that was completed Thursday as the two countries met to repair ties. Ksenia Karelina is “on a plane back home to the United States,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on social media platform X. She was arrested in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg in February 2024 and convicted of treason on charges stemming from a donation of about $52 to a charity aiding Ukraine. U.S. authorities have called the case “absolutely ludicrous.” Arthur Petrov was released as part of a swap in Abu Dhabi, United Araba Emirates, according to the Federal Security Service, or FSB, Russia’s main security and counterespionage agency. Petrov was arrested in Cyprus in August 2023 at the request of the U.S. on charges of smuggling sensitive microelectronics to Russia and extradited to the U.S. a year later. Karelina was among a growing number of Americans arrested in Russia in recent years as tensions between Moscow and Washington spiked over the war in Ukraine. Her release is the latest in a series of high-profile prisoner exchanges Russia and the U.S. carried out in the last three years — and the second since President Donald Trump took office and reversed Washington’s policy of isolating Russia in an effort to end the war in Ukraine. Russian and U.S. diplomats met Thursday in Istanbul for another round of talks on improving diplomatic ties. The discussions ended after six hours without statements from the delegations, the Tass and RIA Novosti state news agencies reported. In February, Russia released American teacher Marc Fogel, imprisoned on drug charges, in a swap that the White House described as part of a diplomatic thaw that could advance peace negotiations. That same month, Russia released another American just days after arresting him on drug smuggling charges. Karelina, a former ballet dancer also identified in some media as Ksenia Khavana, lived in Maryland before moving to Los Angeles. She was arrested when she returned to Russia to visit her family last year. The FSB accused her of “proactively” collecting money for a Ukrainian organization that was supplying gear to Kyiv’s forces. The First Department, a Russian rights group, said the charges stemmed from a $51.80 donation to a U.S. charity aiding Ukraine. Karelina’s lawyer, Mikhail Mushailov, said on Instagram that she had been in touch with her family since her release. “I am overjoyed to hear that the love of my life, Ksenia Karelina is on her way home from wrongful detention in Russia,” Karelina’s fiancé, Chris van Heerden, said in a statement. “She has endured a nightmare for 15 months and I cannot wait to hold her. Our dog, Boots, is also eagerly awaiting her return.” He thanked Trump and his envoys, as well as prominent public figures who had championed her case. White House national security adviser Mike Waltz said on X that “President Trump and his administration continue to work around the clock to ensure Americans detained abroad are returned home to their families.” The exchange was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. Karelina was headed to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, according to a person familiar with the situation who insisted on […]

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Hamas, the group responsible for the deadly October 7, 2023, attack in southern Israel, has begun a legal push to overturn its classification as a terrorist organization in the United Kingdom, The Guardian reported on Wednesday.

The challenge was submitted to the UK Home Office and includes a formal witness statement from senior Hamas figure Mousa Abu Marzouq, who is disputing the group’s current banned status, the report said.

In his statement, which was published by Drop Site News, Abu Marzouq declared, “The British government’s decision to proscribe Hamas is an unjust one that is symptomatic of its unwavering support for Zionism, apartheid, occupation and ethnic cleansing in Palestine for over a century. Hamas does not and never has posed a threat to Britain, despite the latter’s ongoing complicity in the genocide of our people.”

Hamas contends that it is not a terrorist entity but rather a “Palestinian Islamic liberation and resistance movement whose goal is to liberate Palestine and confront the Zionist project.”

The Home Office declined to issue a comment on the matter, citing its policy of not speaking on ongoing legal proceedings.

The UK first added Hamas’s armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, to its list of proscribed terror groups in 2001. That designation was expanded in 2021 to include Hamas’s political division, with then-Home Secretary Priti Patel stating that the distinction between the two was meaningless and that Hamas functions as one unified terrorist body.

Under British law, any organization labeled as a terrorist group is banned entirely, making it a crime to belong to it, support it, or publicly display its insignia.

Hamas’s legal filing further argues that the UK’s stance has chilled free expression and stifled open conversation.

“Rather than allow freedom of speech, police have embarked on a campaign of political intimidation and persecution of journalists, academics, peace activists and students over their perceived support for Hamas,” their lawyers wrote. “People in Britain must be free to speak about Hamas and its struggle to restore to the Palestinian people the right to self-determination.”

The legal documents also claim that the proscription violates international legal commitments, including Britain’s responsibilities to prevent genocide and challenge what Hamas describes as Israel’s “illegal occupation” of Palestinian land. Hamas is described in the brief as “the only effective military force resisting” such actions.

Responding to the challenge, Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel stood by her original position, saying, “Hamas is an evil Iranian-backed terrorist organisation, which kidnaps, tortures and murders people, including British nationals. They pose an ongoing threat to our security and to the peace and stability of the Middle East… They show no respect for human rights, life and dignity and have oppressed people living in Gaza for too long.”

{Matzav.com}