The terror group behind the October 7 atrocity also praised the Foreign Secretary.
Ed Miliband’s sanctions on Israel have sparked a response from Hamas (Image: Getty)
Ed Miliband has been applauded by Hamas over the sanctions he has placed on Israel, with the terror group claiming it is a “step in the right direction”. The intervention by Hamas comes after Mr Miliband announced a ban on imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, with 11 other nations joining Britain in the move.
Basem Naim, a senior member of Hamas’s political bureau, said: “Sanctions by Britain and other countries, and the foreign minister’s use of the term ‘ethnic cleansing’, are important steps in the right direction – but they are not enough.” He said further action was needed, calling for the implementation of international resolutions and the prosecution of Israeli figures accused of war crimes.
Jewish locals of Golders Green react to Ed Miliband’s sanctions on Israel
Mr Naim said: “What is needed to achieve peace in Palestine and beyond is the immediate implementation of the relevant international resolutions and the prosecution of war criminals in Israel in a manner similar to the Nazi trials at Nuremberg.”
Hamas’s comments come despite the group being classed as a terrorist organisation in Britain.
The organisation governs Gaza and was responsible for the October 7 attacks on Israel in 2023, which killed around 1,200 people.
Mr Miliband has also described Israeli settlers in the West Bank as “settler terrorists” and accused them of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.
Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice (Image: Getty)
His remarks have triggered a furious response from Israel, which has rejected his claims as “lies”, reported The Sun.
The Israeli government has also announced retaliatory measures, including plans to shut Britain’s consulate in Jerusalem.
Mr Miliband is the first British minister to describe the occupation of Palestinian territory as unlawful.
The Foreign Secretary’s stance has also been seized upon by Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice, who demanded that he quit.
Mr Tice said: “Hamas praises their puppet Miliband. He should resign. He has made Jews less safe.”
The backlash comes as the Government faces growing controversy over its approach to Israel and the wider conflict in Gaza.
The Hamas endorsement is likely to intensify scrutiny of Mr Miliband’s decision, particularly given the terror group’s explicit support for the sanctions and its call for tougher action against Israel.
Iranian state media has also welcomed the measures, describing them as a step towards “the end of Israel”.