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Hundreds of police officers searched the properties of Hamas members and followers in Germany on Thursday morning following an official ban on any activity by or in support of the militant group.
The German government implemented the ban on 2 November and disbanded 'Samidoun', a group behind an event in Berlin celebrating Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October.
The German intelligence service estimates that Hamas has about 450 members in the country. Their activities range from expressions of sympathy and propaganda activities to financing activities and fundraising to strengthen the organization abroad.
"We are continuing our action against radical Islamists," said German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.
"By detaining Hamas and Samidou in Germany, we have sent a clear signal that we will not tolerate any appreciation or support of Hamas's barbaric terror against Israel."
The raids, which mostly took place in Berlin, were aimed at enforcing the ban and further investigating such groups, the German interior ministry said in a statement.
A total of 16 properties were searched by 500 police officers in Berlin and the states of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein.
In Berlin alone, more than 300 police officers conducted searches in 11 locations to seize evidence and assets. Seven searches were linked to Hamas and four to Samidou. The checks were carried out mainly at the homes of supporters and at the premises of a Palestinian association, the German news agency dpa reported.
Germany has banned groups that support anti-Semitism after the recent Israel-Hamas war.
On Tuesday, police raided the homes of 17 people in the southern German state of Bavaria who were accused of spreading anti-Semitic hate speech and threats targeting Jews online.
On November 16, German police raided 54 locations across the country as part of an investigation into a Hamburg-based organization suspected of promoting the ideology of the Iranian leadership and possibly supporting Hezbollah's activities in Germany.
Minister Faeser said that radical Islamists and anti-Semites "should not feel safe anywhere here". She said that Hamas members and supporters in Germany are also committed to influencing the political and social debate in the country.
Hamas has vowed to destroy Israel and has been responsible for many suicide bombings and other deadly attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers. After the group's attack on Israel on October 7, Israel vowed to eradicate Hamas.
The US State Department designated Hamas a terrorist group in 1997. The European Union and other Western countries also consider it a terrorist organization. /VOA
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