A Hamas rally in Ramallah. Photo: Hoheit via Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – The European Union’s (EU) Court of Justice ruled on Wednesday to keep Hamas on its list of terrorist organizations.

The decision defies the court’s top lawyer, who had argued in favor of removing Hamas from the EU’s terror blacklist. The ruling nullifies a 2014 decision by a lower EU court, made on procedural grounds, which stated the Palestinian Islamist group should be removed from the blacklist. The 2014 ruling drew strong rebuke from the Israeli government.

“The current listing of Hamas remains in force and the European Union continues to consider Hamas a terrorist organization,” said EU Ambassador to Israel Lars Faaborg-Andersen, the Times of Israel reported. “All restrictive measures against the group — an asset freeze and a ban against soliciting or mobilizing funds — remain in force.”

The designation keeps numerous Hamas funding sources frozen and restricts the group from doing business in the EU. It also restricts the freedom of movement of Hamas members.