German police raid properties of Hamas supporters across the country

Hundreds of police officers searched the homes of Hamas supporters across Germany on Thursday morning. Those searches came after a formal ban on any activity by or in support of Hamas earlier this month. German intelligence estimates that Hamas has about 450 members throughout the country conducting activities ranging from expressing sympathy for Hamas, to financing and fundraising for the organization.

What was the purpose of the raids? The German interior ministry said the raids were meant to enforce the bans and further investigate the groups. By continuing consistent action against radical Islamists, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said the country is aiming to send a clear signal that they will not tolerate any support of Hamas’ “terror against Israel.” Many of the searches took place in Berlin, targeting homes of Hamas supporters and the premises of a Palestinian association.

Dig deeper: Listen to Nick Eicher and Mary Reichard’s conversation with reporter Seth Frantzman on The World and Everything in It podcast about Israel’s war in Gaza.