Swiss government passes law banning Hamas

The Swiss Federal Council has announced its decision to implement the Federal Act on the Ban of Hamas and Related Organisations, which will come into effect on May 15, 2025. 

This move follows a series of significant political actions prompted by the deadly attack on Israel in October 2023, Caliber.Az reports citing the federal cabinet of the Swiss Confederation.

In the wake of the attack, which saw nearly 1,200 lives lost and many others taken hostage, the Security Policy Committees of both the National and the Council of States called for a ban on Hamas. In response, the Federal Council tasked the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) with drafting the necessary legislative framework.

By September 2024, the Federal Council had finalised its proposal, presenting the message for the Federal Act on the Ban of Hamas and Related Organisations. This was subsequently approved by both chambers of the Swiss Federal Assembly in December 2024, with a clear majority. Following the end of the referendum period on 19 April 2025, without any successful challenge to the law, the act is now set to come into force.

The legislation provides Swiss authorities with enhanced powers to combat Hamas-related activities and support within the country. It allows for preventive police measures, such as entry bans and expulsions, while also streamlining criminal evidence procedures related to Hamas activities.

Furthermore, the law aims to close loopholes that have allowed Hamas to exploit Switzerland as a financial hub, strengthening the nation's internal security and contributing to the adherence to international law.

With the new law officially taking effect on 15 May 2025, it will be published in the Official Collection of Federal Law, marking a significant step in Switzerland's stance on counterterrorism and international security.

By Aghakazim Guliyev