Somalia PM: Hamas is not a terrorist organization

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Palestinian armed resistance group of Hamas continues to receive backing from various countries, with Somalia joining the faction calling for immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, following endless massacre which has left thousands of people dead.

For three weeks since the attack on Israel by Hamas, the two sides have been engaging in bombardments, leaving thousands of civilians exposed with many others becoming casualties. Several countries have been asking both sides to embrace a ceasefire.

On Thursday, Somalia Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre defended Hamas, insisting that the group was "unfairly" designated as a terrorist organization, despite being a liberation movement meant to "rescue" Palestinians from Israeli's "occupation" force.

“It’s a liberation movement,” Barre said while addressing people in Mogadishu, on Thursday. “Where is the world? Where are the human rights defenders? Where are the children’s rights defenders? Where are the women’s rights defenders? Where have they gone?”

“It’s incumbent upon us not to forget what is happening in Palestine,” he added while asking the world to chip in and end hostilities against children and women in the Middle East state which is yet to be recognized as an independent country.

Previously, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made such comments in support of the Hamas. In response, Israel said that it was recalling its diplomats from Turkey over comments from Erdogan, raising fears that Somalia may suffer similar consequences.

The US State Department designated Hamas as a “foreign terrorist organization.” The group is traditionally associated with the fight for the rights of Palestinians, who have been leading self-determination push and statehood for the last several decades.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has frequently called for uninterrupted humanitarian aid to Gaza and parts of the West Bank where Israeli Defence Forces have been targeting buildings and locations with heavy artillery and rockets for the last three weeks.

"The level of humanitarian assistance that has been allowed into Gaza up to this point is completely inadequate," he said. "I reiterate my call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and for unimpeded access to be granted, consistently, safely and to scale."

GAROWE ONLINE