Former Home Secretary Priti Patel has condemned Hamas's legal challenge against its proscription as a terror group in Britain, describing it as "a stain on our democracy".
Speaking on GB News, Patel said: "This is obviously a stain on our democracy and on our laws when we all know that Hamas is backed by Iran. Hamas are a terrorist organisation."
She emphasised that the group was proscribed "for very good reasons".
"They're part of a murderous regime. They murder and torture and brutalise innocent civilians and they are responsible for the atrocities that took place in Israel on the 7th October two years ago," Patel stated.
Priti Patel said the legal battle is a stain on democracy
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The former Home Secretary called the legal action "simply unacceptable".
Hamas has launched legal action against its proscription as a terror group, sparking widespread outrage.
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The Palestinian militant group has instructed British lawyers to challenge the designation, arguing it was a "political" decision.
Riverway Law, an immigration firm based in Streatham, south London, has confirmed it has begun legal proceedings against the Home Office.
The firm announced on Wednesday: "Today, Fahad Ansari of Riverway Law launches an important legal application to Yvette Cooper MP to end the ban on the organisation Harakat al-Muqawwamah al-Islamiyyah (Hamas)."
Hamas said in its legal submission: "Hamas does not deny that its actions fall within the wide definition of 'terrorism' under the Terrorism Act 2000. Instead, it notes that the definition also covers all groups and organisations around the world that use violence to achieve political objectives."
Priti Patel joined Tom Harwood and Emily Carver on GB News
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The group further argued that the definition could apply to "the Israeli armed forces, the Ukrainian army and, indeed, the British armed forces."
Hamas claimed that not all such groups are proscribed as it is "a question of discretion for the Secretary of State".
The submission also stated: "Transition to a political process is hindered by the terrorism label, as talking with terrorists is a taboo."
Patel expressed strong criticism of the legal firm representing Hamas, questioning their basis for challenging the proscription.
"I think it's absolutely absurd that the so-called legal representatives representing this terrorist organisation are trying to pervert our own domestic laws to effectively unwind the proscription that I put in place," she said.
She specifically targeted what she described as "do-gooder left-wing lawyers" who she claimed were "abusing our laws".
"They're using laws now to basically poke their thumbs and noses at the British public and at the British legislators and say that they're supporting the most awful people who want to do the country harm," Patel stated.
She added they were "on the side of people that come into our country illegally, break our laws, don't even abide by our laws."
Hamas SUES British Government in fury over being branded 'terror group' as UK urged to 'change course on relationship with colonialism'Patel also expressed disappointment at the lack of government response to the legal challenge.
"What I think is quite extraordinary through is we've heard nothing from the British Government, nothing from the department I used to lead," she said.
She emphasised that Hamas poses significant security risks beyond Israel.
"They are a threat to the security of our country. They're a threat to British citizens, British nationals and also a threat to all nationals of peace-loving countries around the world," Patel warned.
She described Hamas as a threat to "those countries that stand up for Western values, free speech and democracy."
Patel noted she had taken "a very bold step forward to proscribe Hamas as terrorists in all its forms."
