Egyptian court blacklists, segregates Hamas’ armed wing as terrorists

The special Egyptian court that deals with urgent cases Saturday banned the Palestinian Hamas’s armed wing the Qassam Brigades as a terrorist organization. It was charged with aiding and abetting the large-scale quadruple assault staged Friday by the ISIS wing Ansar Bait al-Maqdis on Sinai towns next door to the Gaza Strip. Between 40 and 50 Egyptian security officers and troops were killed in the attacks. Hamas’ parent, the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, was earlier placed outside the law.

The ban bars access to Cairo international airport for Hamas operatives on their travels to maintain the Palestinian organization’s ties with the Arab world and Iran. Furthermore, any Qassam Brigades member entering Egypt faces arrest as a terrorist.