Fact Check: "Hamas is designated as a terrorist group by Ottawa."
What We Know
Hamas has been officially designated as a terrorist entity by the Canadian government since November 2002 under the Criminal Code of Canada. This designation makes it a criminal offense to support or engage in any activities related to Hamas (source-5). Furthermore, following the attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, Canada has taken additional measures to reinforce this designation. On September 16, 2024, the Canadian government amended the Special Economic Measures Regulations to impose further sanctions against Hamas, citing its actions as a "grave breach of international peace and security" (source-3).
Analysis
The claim that Hamas is designated as a terrorist group by Ottawa is substantiated by multiple official sources. The Criminal Code of Canada explicitly lists Hamas as a terrorist entity, which has been in effect since 2002. This long-standing designation indicates a consistent policy by the Canadian government regarding Hamas.
Moreover, the recent amendments to the Special Economic Measures Regulations further solidify this designation in light of the group's violent actions against civilians in Israel. The Canadian government's response to the October 7 attacks, which included the killing of over 1,200 individuals and the taking of hostages, underscores the severity with which Canada views Hamas's actions (source-3).
The sources used to support this claim are credible and come from official government publications, which typically maintain a high standard of reliability. The Canada Gazette, for instance, is the official newspaper of the Government of Canada and is used to publish government regulations and notices (source-3).
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that "Hamas is designated as a terrorist group by Ottawa" is true. The designation has been in place since 2002 and has been reinforced by recent regulatory actions in response to Hamas's violent activities. The evidence from credible sources confirms that the Canadian government officially recognizes Hamas as a terrorist entity.
Sources
- December 13, 2023 The Honorable Justin P. J. Trudeau ... source-1
- Le Hamas rejette la nouvelle proposition de cessez-le-feu source-2
- Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures ... source-3
- Ces trois soldats sont vivants et captifs du Hamas. source-4
- Currently listed entities source-5
- Arrêtez de publier les chiffres du Hamas, ils sont faux! source-6
- Canada imposes additional sanctions in response to ... source-7
- Pourquoi le Hamas a rejeté le plan de cessez-le-feu de Witkoff source-8
