Switzerland to ban Hamas on May 15, allowing expulsions: What we know
Historically neutral Switzerland moved to ban Hamas after the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, mirroring actions taken by others on the continent.
Switzerland’s ban on Hamas will come into effect next month, the Swiss government said on Wednesday, a move that represents an escalation in efforts to limit the Palestinian armed group’s activities in Europe.
The Federal Council in Switzerland decided that the law will take effect on May 15 and will provide the government with “the necessary tools to take action against Hamas activities or support for the organization in Switzerland,” per a press release.
The law will facilitate police actions such as entry bans and expulsions, plus evidence collection in criminal proceedings related to Hamas. It will additionally make it “more difficult” for Hamas to use Switzerland as a center for its financing, the government said.
Parliament approved the law in December of 2024. It was first proposed in October of 2023 following Hamas’ deadly incursion into southern Israel, which led to the outbreak of the Gaza war. The Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas and allied groups killed around 1,200 people, per Israeli figures. Israel’s subsequent operations in Gaza have killed more than 52,000, per local officials.
