MANILA, Philippines — The International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS) criticized the proposal of Philippine government officials to designate an Islamic organization in Palestine as "terrorists" following recent attacks in Israel.
This comes after the National Security Council last Friday said that it would push for the designation of Hamas as terrorists in solidarity with Israel, a country illegally occupying the state of Palestine since 1967 according to United Nations.
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"NSC’s declaration of Hamas as a terrorist organization will not resolve the Palestinian question and bring about peace in Palestine and the whole Arab region," said Liza Maza, secretary general of the ILPS this Saturday.
"If ever, it will just win points from the US to which the Philippines has long been subservient and from Israel which has large military supplies contracts with the Philippines."
Hamas isn't the only Palestinian political organization participating in and supporting the offensive against Israel but also the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
"Operation al-Aqsa Storm" waged by Palestinian militants is said to be a response against attacks by Jewish settlers, alongside clashes in Jenin and Al-Aqsa mosque which lead to the deaths of over 200 Palestinians. This is besides Israel's continuing military occupation.
'Terrorist assault'
The NSC says that the "barbaric terrorist assault" of Hamas against the civilian population gives Israel every right to defend and protect itself, this as the attacks have already killed three Filipinos.
Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Law gives the Anti-Terrorism Council authority to designate individuals, groups, persons, organizations and associations as terrorists. A terrorist designation in the country will trigger the Anti-Money Laundering Council’s authority to freeze assets of the designated subject.
“The US and Israel have long declared them as terrorist for pursuing a struggle against US-supported Zionist Israel’s occupation of Palestine though the 2018 proposal to declare Hamas as terrorist in the UN failed to pass," continued Maza.
"The Palestinian people have long suffered under Israel’s illegal occupation of their lands. The people’s right to pursue the struggle for self determination by all means including by force is a long held principle already enshrined in international documents including that of the UN."
Over 1,300 people have died in Israel while 3,200 others have been wounded since the Palestinian attacks from the blockaded Gaza Strip, according to figures from the former's military.
Israeli air strikes on Gaza Strip have killed at least 2,215 people including 724 children, according to Palestine's health ministry today. Over 8,714 peoople have been wounded on the side of Palestinians after retaliation from Israel. — with reports from Agence France-Presse