EU rejects Hamas appeal, maintaining Hamas is a terrorist organization

"Since its establishment, Hamas has openly declared its goal of destroying the State of Israel by harming innocent Israeli civilians and using human shields."

Palestinian Hamas militants attend the funeral of their comrades who were killed in an explosion, in the central Gaza Strip May 6, 2018 (photo credit: REUTERS/IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA)
Palestinian Hamas militants attend the funeral of their comrades who were killed in an explosion, in the central Gaza Strip May 6, 2018
(photo credit: REUTERS/IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA)
The European Union rejected Hamas's appeal to stop the EU's freeze on Hamas' assets. This maintains the EU decision to categorize Hamas as a terrorist organization. 
"The European Court of Justice expressed its voice clearly in the name of justice and human rights by ruling on continuing sanctions against Hamas and maintaining its permanent definition as a terrorist organization," World Jewish Congress CEO and Executive Vice President Robert Singer said on Sunday in response to the December decision.
"Since its establishment, Hamas has openly declared its goal of destroying the State of Israel by harming innocent Israeli civilians and using human shields as part of the ongoing terrorist activity," Singer added. "The European Union has proved that it stands on the right side of history in defending the rights of citizens against incitement, terrorism and violence, and we hope that any effort to change this position, both in Europe and elsewhere, will be firmly rejected."
"The international community must recognize the clear fact that Hamas's supreme goal is to harm innocent people by any means necessary, Hamas is a terrorist organization in every sense of the word, and it is an immediate danger to both Israelis and Palestinians."
Yvette J. Deane translated this report.