Hamas hails Ireland’s ban on Israeli settlement products

Hamas Movement hailed in a statement issued Thursday the Irish Senate vote imposing a ban on the import of products originating from Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory.

Hamas described the vote as “an important step towards criminalizing the behavior of the Israeli occupation and its policy of illegal settlement-building on Palestinian land”.

The group went on to urge the international community to follow Ireland’s lead by boycotting goods produced on settlements built in occupied territory.

On Wednesday evening, Ireland’s senate voted 25 to 20 in favor of legislation criminalizing imports from Israeli settlements.

According to the legislation, the import of settlement-manufactured goods — or attempts to import them — will be considered a crime punishable by up to five years behind bars or a 250,000-euro fine.