EU appeal of terror blacklist ruling immoral: Hamas

The Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, says the European Union’s appeal to keep it on the bloc’s terrorism blacklist is “immoral.”

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Monday that the 28-member bloc’s foreign ministers decided to appeal a ruling by an EU court last December that Hamas must be removed from its terror list.

The General Court of the European Union said in a statement on December 17, 2014, that the original conclusion of the movement was based not on reliable sources, but conclusions from the media and Internet reports.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri on Monday slammed the EU decision and said, “The European Union's insistence on keeping Hamas on the list of terrorist organizations…reflects the EU's total bias in favor of the Israeli occupation.”

"It provides it [Israel] with the cover for its crimes against the Palestinian people," he added, AFP reported.

Hamas had filed an appeal against its inclusion in the EU’s list of terrorist organizations on several grounds. The bloc blacklisted the political wing of Hamas in 2003.

This comes as the European Parliament on December 17, 2014 voted overwhelmingly of recognition of the Palestinian state.

In November 2012, the United Nations General Assembly voted to upgrade Palestine’s status at the UN from "non-member observer entity" to "non-member observer state" despite strong opposition from Israel and the US.

SF/HMV/KA

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk