Exclusive/ Hamas shouldn't be declared a terrorist organisation: Samajwadi Party MP

Samajwadi Party MP Shafiqur Rehman Barq while talking exclusively to Republic on Monday said that Hamas should not be declared a terrorist organisation and instead we all should stand with Hamas. 

Efforts should have been made to end the war and the help which Palestinian people needed was not done, the SP MP said while talking to Republic about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. 

When the Republic’s reporter asked the MP whether Hamas should be declared a terror organisation, he said, “Why should it be done? There are few terrorists, today Hamas is fighting for its rights. However, we should support everyone to fight for its rights. Whereas, whether it was under Atal Bihari Vajpayee or Manmohan Singh, help was always given to Palestine. Today what is happening in this government is that instead of helping Palestine, it is silent. And this time they are not providing the help that was needed.”

The statement from the Samajwadi party MP comes when the conflict between Israel and the Islamist Hamas organisation in Palestine reached its 25th day. There have been around 9,000 fatalities on both sides.

Israel shut down the besieged enclave's communications and Internet on Friday, preventing roughly 2.3 million residents from communicating with one another or the outside world.

At least 8,000 Palestinians have died as a result of Israeli Defence Forces retaliatory airstrikes in Gaza since October 7, according to the Hamas-led Health Ministry.

On October 7, Hamas launched an offensive on Israeli towns from the Gaza border, resulting in the deaths of over 1,400 people, the majority of whom were civilians. In addition, it is estimated that during the operation, Hamas seized and transported into Gaza at least 222 individuals, including foreigners. Since then, four have been released by Hamas.