A UK-based law firm has formally requested the British government to lift its ban on the Palestinian militant group Hamas—a move that has sparked strong political backlash.
The legal challenge, submitted by London-based Riverway Law, claims the UK’s proscription of Hamas violates human rights obligations. The firm argues that the group represents “the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people for independence, territorial integrity, national unity, and liberation,” and asserts that resisting foreign occupation—including through armed struggle—is protected under international law.
Hamas’s military wing has been designated as a terrorist organisation in the UK since 2001. In 2021, this classification was extended to include its political wing, meaning the entire group is now banned. Under UK law, belonging to or supporting a proscribed organisation is a criminal offence.
The submission was made on behalf of Mousa Abu Marzouk, a senior Hamas official. In a statement on X, Riverway Law argued that the ban is “disproportionate” and that Hamas “does not pose any threat to Britain’s national security.” The firm also contends the proscription contradicts the UK’s obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
This legal action comes against the backdrop of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The conflict escalated dramatically after Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli sources. In response, Israel launched a large-scale military campaign in Gaza, resulting in more than 50,000 deaths, the majority civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory.
The petition has been strongly condemned by UK opposition figures. Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel—who was Home Secretary when Hamas’s political wing was banned—called the group an “evil, Iranian-backed terrorist organisation.”
The UK Home Office has not commented on the petition, stating it does not speak on matters of proscription.
