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The parties only agree on the question of banning the radical Islamic Hamas. What is controversial, however, is whether money for development aid in the Middle East should be suspended and what consequences the escalation there will have for Swiss security policy.
Columns of smoke rise over the Gaza Strip on Friday morning: the aftermath of attacks carried out by the Israeli army overnight. Meanwhile, there is no trace of the Israeli hostages, almost three weeks after the brutal terrorist attack by the radical Islamic group Hamas.
While the debate about the conflict in the Middle East is heated and polarizing on social media and in the streets, the discussion in the “Arena” this Friday evening begins with a consensus: all politicians present confirm that Hamas is in the Switzerland must be banned.
Unity on Hamas ban
“You cannot be neutral towards a terrorist organization,” argued SVP National Councilor Roland Rino Büchel. The SVP has been calling for a ban on Hamas for some time – the Federal Council and the security policy commissions of the National and Council of States have now also spoken out in favor of such a ban.
Switzerland can maintain the ability to engage in dialogue even in difficult situations.
A ban is necessary to stop the financing and propaganda of Hamas in Switzerland, said FDP National Councilor Jacqueline de Quattro: “We must not become a safe haven for Hamas.” GLP National Councilor Melanie Mettler also agreed with this. But: “Switzerland can maintain the ability to engage in dialogue even in difficult situations.” This is still important because Switzerland can advocate for the release of hostages and humanitarian corridors in any negotiations.
Issue of development aid
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) announced this week that it would suspend payments to various Palestinian and Israeli NGOs. The reason: the way these NGOs have expressed themselves publicly since the terrorist attack on Israel by the radical Islamic group Hamas.
According to Fabian Molina, SP National Councilor and co-president of the aid organization “Swissaid”, a mistake: “That is not only wrong, but also stupid.” The opposite is required: “We need more investments in peace and an additional package of humanitarian aid for Gaza.”
SVP National Councilor Büchel, however, welcomed the step. Because: “There is a risk that money will flow into the wrong channels.” GLP National Councilor Mettler objected that there was no absolute control over the use of the funds. “The important thing is simple: we have to keep the proportion of money that doesn’t go where we want as small as possible.” Meanwhile, precise control over the use of the funds was undisputed in the studio.
Tense security situation
There was also the question of what the escalation in the Middle East means for the security situation in Switzerland. The FDP National Councilor and former security director of the canton of Vaud De Quattro was worried: “There have been more attacks in Europe recently – Hamas is giving other terrorist groups a boost.”
Middle East expert Victor Willi also confirmed this. Hamas itself is probably not a threat to the West because it is nationally oriented and focused on the Middle East. But: “Hamas gives the entire Islamist movement a boost.” This increases the risk that individual terrorist perpetrators will become active in Europe.
At the end of the program, however, the focus was once again on the situation on site with a link to SRF Middle East correspondent Jonas Bischoff. This threatens to escalate further: On Friday evening, the Israeli military announced an expansion of ground operations in Gaza.