National Security Council pushes to designate Hamas as terrorists

MANILA, Philippines — The National Security Council (NSC) on Friday said it will push the designation of the fundamentalist group Hamas in solidarity with Israel.

"This was a deadly and barbaric terrorist assault on Israel targeting its civilian population and Israel has every right, as much as any nation, to defend and protect itself from this attack which has already claimed more than 1,200 lives, including that of two (2) Filipinos, and wounded some 3,000 others. Three (3) Filipinos are still unaccounted for," the council said in a statement.

NSC pertains to section 25 of the Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Law gives authority to the Anti-Terror Council to designate individuals, groups, persons, organizations and associations as terrorists. 

The move will also trigger the Anti-Money Laundering Council’s authority to freeze assets of the designated subject.

The fundamentalist group Hamas is only based in Gaza which is in the eastern part of Israel.

There are also no reported assets by Hamas in the Philippines.

On October 8, the Philippine government expressed its support for Israel after Hamas attacks on the state’s territories.