MP calls for ban on Hamas political wing

The British government should consider adding Hamas’ political wing to its list of proscribed organisations, a Labour MP has said.

Michael McCann’s call came during a parliamentary debate yesterday on how Britain can help avoid a repeat of last summer’s conflict and create an environment for peace.

He told fellow MPs that Labour was proscribed Hamas’ military wing when in Government but added: “I would urge the minister to assess the increasing evidence that Hamas’ political and military wings are contrapuntally linked.”

Mccann – a vice-chair of Labour friends of Israel – warned that Hamas had almost “regained their full military capability” and was “laying the groundwork for another bloody war”.

He insisted there was a need to lift restrictions on the movement of people and goods in Gaza but that was dependent on disarmament of terrorists.

The MP said: “Britain an show leadership at the UN Security Council by proposing an initiative that would impose sanctions on UN members caught attempting to transfer weapons to Hamas and other groups.

“Such a resolution would provide a clear signal that the international community is committed to preventing a return to hostilities in Gaza.” World leaders should also provide disarmament inspectors to oversee the derestriction of weapons, he urged.