Switzerland announces its ban on Hamas will come into force on May 15

By TOI Staff and Reuters

A new Swiss law banning Hamas and affiliated organizations will come into force on May 15, the government said on Wednesday, aiming to prevent the Palestinian terror group from using Switzerland as a safe haven. The law, which was approved by parliament in December and came in the wake of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, onslaught in Israel, gives Swiss authorities “the necessary tools to take action against Hamas activities or support for the organization in Switzerland,” the government said. The ban aims to punish Hamas for its assault, in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage, and to prevent the group from using Switzerland as a safe haven or carrying out attacks in the country. For example, it makes entry bans or expulsions easier to arrange.