ven, 24 novembre 2023
The Federal Council wants to ban the radical Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas with a specially created law. It is not requesting urgency, but refers to the possibility of parliament speeding up the bill.
By the end of February 2024, the FDJP and DDPS, in collaboration with the FDFA, are to prepare a draft law to ban Hamas. This will be followed by a consultation process and discussion in the Federal Assembly. The planned law could come into force in around a year, Justice Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider told the media in Bern on Wednesday.
In response to questions, she added that the Federal Council had discussed the issue of urgency. It had come to the conclusion that the political discussion should be conducted on the basis of the consultation process. Parliament could still declare the bill urgent.
The Federal Council is of the opinion that a ban on Hamas is the best solution for responding to the situation in the Middle East that has prevailed since October 7. The ban could strengthen law enforcement and prevention and prevent Switzerland from becoming a financial hub for Hamas, said Baume-Schneider.
The Federal Council is aware that the Hamas ban affects fundamental rights and restricts freedom of action for negotiations. However, at the end of the weighing up of interests, it was in favor of the ban. Baume-Schneider also referred to the mandate of Parliament: its responsible committees have called for a ban on Hamas.
Relying on the UN for a ban is no longer enough, said Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis. The war in Ukraine shows that the UN Security Council cannot make a clear commitment in the current multipolar world. We have to live with this reality. The multilateral mechanism desired by most countries is no longer fully capable of doing its job.
The Federal Council also decided on Wednesday to end its cooperation with three Palestinian non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The reason for this is non-compliant behavior with regard to the code of conduct and contractual anti-discrimination clause, as Cassis also explained.
The NGOs are contractually obliged to be careful with their communication, the Foreign Minister explained. Switzerland’s cooperation program also had to be adapted due to the “turning point” on 7 October.
A total of six Palestinian and five Israeli NGOs that are partners of the Swiss Cooperation Program for the Middle East were audited. No irregularities were found at eight of these NGOs.
The names of the three NGOs affected by the suspension were not disclosed on Wednesday. In the coming days, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) will name the NGOs with which the Confederation will continue its cooperation.
In response to a question from journalists, Cassis emphasized that the review would not damage the company’s image. The audit was normal practice and it was also normal for funding to be put on hold if there were doubts about compliance with contracts. The SDC intervenes on the basis of information, not the department.
Following the Hamas attack, the Federal Council suspended financial support for the eleven NGOs under investigation. 15 Swiss aid organizations and associations active in the Middle East criticized the decision. The Confederation had not provided a factual and comprehensible explanation for the suspension.
So far, no irregularities have been found in the investigation of financial flows in connection with Switzerland’s partner NGOs. A few days after the Hamas attack, the FDFA was tasked with scrutinizing the financial flows in connection with partner NGOs.
According to the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, weeks before the Hamas attack, it had already investigated whether Hamas was being financed with funds from Switzerland. Criminal proceedings have been initiated on suspicion of financing a terrorist organization.
The Federal Council once again condemned the terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel. It deeply regrets that thousands of civilians in Israel and throughout the occupied Palestinian territory have lost their lives since the attack on October 7.
The Federal Council reiterated its plea for a two-state solution. Only then could the Palestinian and Israeli populations live in peace, security and dignity.
©Keystone/SDA
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