PA "denounces" UK's decision to recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization, saying this decision "violates international law" and creates a "serious obstacle to the peace process"

Excerpt of a column by Bassem Barhoum, regular columnist for the official PA daily

Headline: “Why the British decision on Hamas [precisely] now?”

“One can disagree with Hamas for ideological and political reasons, but one cannot agree to the definition of a Palestinian political body as a terror [organization] (refers to the British announcement on Nov. 19, 2021, that it will recognize all of Hamas including its political bureau as a terror organization -Ed.)…

Regardless of the issue [behind the timing of Britain’s decision], this decision is denounced and does not take into account the fact that the Palestinian land is under Israeli occupation, and the fact that resistance to the occupation is a legitimate right that is consistent with the UN Charter and international law (sic., the UN Charter calls for “peaceful” resolution of disputes while international law prohibits targeting civilians). In this sense, the British decision is modeled after the Israeli occupation, and thus it violated international law…

The Palestinian national struggle against the occupation is currently dealing with a problem, as Hamas is considered a terror organization by the European Union (EU), the US, Australia, New Zealand, and other states. This reality will be a serious obstacle in the path of any international effort to return to a true peace process or any effort to end the blockade of the Gaza Strip. So, what is the way out? Hamas must do what it has not done since it took over the Gaza Strip by force in 2007 (see note below -Ed.): To return to the path of Palestinian unity and unification of the homeland, as only through the Palestinian people’s unity will we deal with the dangers and challenges.”

2007 Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip - Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah won the 2005 Palestinian Authority Presidential election. However, Hamas won the 2006 parliamentary elections in both the Gaza Strip and West Bank, with a majority of 74 out of 132 seats, to Fatah's 45 seats. Fatah's rule of the PA Presidency and Hamas' rule of the PA government led to friction and eventually armed conflict between Hamas and Fatah. Hamas defeated Fatah militarily in the Gaza Strip in 2007, and since then Hamas has ruled in Gaza while the PA continues to rule the PA areas in the West Bank under Fatah.