Israel’s ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, has warned of a continuing high risk of attacks by the radical Islamist Hamas. “Germany has become an active terror target for Hamas, rather than a place of retreat,” Prosor told newspapers belonging to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND), according to reports published on Sunday. Its deadly ideology threatens “all of us” and must be fought together. The threat remains “high,” he said.
The warning comes after Germany’s Federal Prosecutor General announced on Friday that charges had been brought against seven alleged members of Hamas who are suspected of having been involved in preparing an attack in Germany or Austria. The men were arrested in Germany and abroad over the past several months. According to the prosecution, they were allegedly tasked by Hamas leadership operating from the Gaza Strip with procuring weapons.
According to investigators, Hamas was planning an attack on Jewish or Israeli targets around the second anniversary of its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The first three of the suspects now facing charges were arrested in Berlin only a few days before that date, at the beginning of October last year. The seven defendants have been charged before the State Security Senate of the Berlin Higher Regional Court.
Hamas and its paramilitary wing are fighting Israel from the Gaza Strip. According to Germany’s constitutional protection authorities, the organisation denies the State of Israel the right to exist and also pursues an Islamist ideology. Hamas has been prohibited from operating in Germany since November 2023 under a ban imposed by the Federal Ministry of the Interior. The European Union classifies Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
From breaking news to thought-provoking opinion pieces, our newsletter keeps you informed & engaged.
By subscribing, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
