In Lower Saxony, the extremist group Hamas finds a modest yet significant following and operational figures within its populous. This revelation emerged from Christian Calderone's inquiry to the state's Ministry of Interior as a CDU member of the parliament.
The Ministry reported that the number of individuals supporting and working for Hamas under Lower Saxony's security forces' watchful eye is not negligible, hovering around the mid-double digits. Despite this, the state authorities maintain open dialogue with various pro-Palestinian organizations, excluding those that uphold Hamas. The government does not collaborate with public representatives from the Palestinian territories.
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, representing the SPD, decided to outlaw Hamas and the Palestinian network Samidoun at the beginning of November. This decision was a consequence of devastating terrorist attacks in Israel, which occurred on October 7, with over a thousand lives lost. The attacks were orchestrated by Hamas.
German CDU representatives have expressed concerns over the presence of Hamas members in Lower Saxony, urging their state government to intensify efforts against extremist groups and terrorist organizations. In the context of the internal security threat posed by Hamas, the Lower Saxony Ministry of Internal Security has engaged in talks with pro-Palestinian organizations concerning matters of mutual interest. However, any organization that backs Hamas is expressly omitted from these discussions.
The debate on extremism and the role of organizations like Hamas in Germany persists among political circles, with parties such as the CDU advocating for stricter measures to safeguard internal security.
While the federal government has outlawed Hamas in its entirety, specific actions taken in Lower Saxony and across Germany to combat the threat of Hamas and related extremist groups encompass heightened surveillance, raids, investigations, legal proceedings, and legislative amendments to combat antisemitism and hostile attitudes towards Israel. Authorities have also taken steps to protect Jewish communities and institutions within universities and schools.
Relevant information sourced from stern.de, Protecting Our Innovation: Germany's Strategy against Antisemitism and Hostility towards Israel in Schools and Universities (German Parliament), and The German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) indicates a sustained commitment by the German government to counter the existence and activities of Islamist terrorist organizations such as Hamas, as well as related extremist groups.
Measures taken against these organizations extend to arrests and raids, financial support restrictions, surveillance and monitoring, legal actions and bans, and intelligence and security enhancements. In February 2025, German and Dutch authorities apprehended four Hamas members in both cities, while the Al-Mustafa Community Center in Bremen was shut down in March 2022 due to its promotion of violence and terrorism. Furthermore, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has monitored, investigated, and surveilled various extremist groups, including the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party for its suspected links to right-wing extremism.
These measures underscore a comprehensive approach by the German government to counter terrorism and extremism, including both Islamist and far-right groups.
