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Israel has been asking India to officially label Hamas as a terrorist group, especially after several Hamas leaders visited Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) last month. The visit happened during "Kashmir Solidarity Day" and was notable because Hamas leaders were joined by members of other terrorist groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which are already banned by the United Nations. Israel has discussed this matter with Indian authorities.
Although India has shown strong support for Israel in the fight against terrorism, especially after the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, it has not yet banned Hamas. Many countries, including the United States and the European Union, have already designated Hamas as a terrorist group, but India has not followed suit.
In 2023, Israel banned Pakistan-based LeT, which was responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Israel’s former ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, had hoped India would also ban Hamas, as Israel had shared details of the group’s terror activities with the Indian government.
The issue of banning Hamas has been raised in the Indian Parliament. However, the Ministry of External Affairs has said that decisions on whether to label an organisation as a terrorist group are made under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). It is a process that involves various government departments.
India continues to support Israel in its fight against terrorism but is cautious about taking steps that could impact its diplomatic relations. While pressure from Israel grows, it remains to be seen if India will eventually change its stance on Hamas.
