New Delhi: Israel has contacted India in response to the Hamas leader’s attendance at a rally in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, emphasising its affiliation with Pakistan-based terrorist organisations and expressing its apprehensions regarding the organisation. Israel has encouraged and anticipated that New Delhi will include Hamas on its terror list.
Dr. Khalid Al-Qadoumi, the leader of Hamas, was in attendance at the “Kashmir Solidarity and Hamas Operation ‘Al Aqsa Flood’ Conference” in Rawalakot, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The conference was held in conjunction with Pakistan’s “Kashmir Solidarity Day.”
The Hamas leader was present at the event on February 5th, where he shared the stage with leaders from UN-listed terror groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
The rally featured anti-India rhetoric and demonstrated solidarity between these groups. Visuals of the Hamas leader being welcomed by JeM and LeT militants on bikes and horses, waving Hamas flags, were shown.
This was the first public instance of Hamas participating in an event in PoK, which prompted apprehensions regarding the potential for the Gaza-based group to establish connections with Pakistan-based terrorist organisations.
India has not yet designated Hamas as a terrorist organisation under its domestic legal framework, which is the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) of 1967. The Indian government is permitted to designate groups as terrorist organisations under the UAPA; however, this typically necessitates evidence of the group’s operations, financing, or recruitment occurring within Indian territory where Indian laws are applicable.
The UAPA prohibits 44 organisations, including groups such as ISIS (banned in 2015), as of the most recent updates. However, Hamas is not included in this list. However, the recent registration of Hamas’ participation in the PoK terror meet, which is situated in close proximity to the Line of Control, will be carefully observed in Delhi.
Hamas is classified as a terrorist organisation by numerous countries worldwide, including the United States (since 1997), the European Union, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. However, certain nations, such as Russia, China, and Turkey, have not included it on their terror lists. The group was responsible for the most severe terror attack on Israeli soil on October 7, 2023, which elicited a robust response from the Israeli government, resulting in the Gaza War.
In recent years, India and Israel have strengthened their relationship, particularly in the realm of defence and security, with a particular emphasis on counterterrorism cooperation. The India-Israel Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counterterrorism, which was established in 2002, convenes annually to coordinate initiatives regarding cybersecurity, terror financing, and border security.
