European court keeps Hamas on EU blacklist

The European Union's highest court on Wednesday issued a ruling keeping Palestinian resistance group Hamas on an EU blacklist.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling cancels a 2014 judgment from a lower EU court which had directed Hamas be removed from the list and that 2001's sanctions and asset freezes against the group be ended.

This lower court claimed the sanctions had been based on second-hand information and not on an independent inquiry.

An ECJ statement on Wednesday confirmed the issue would be sent back to the lower General Court "so that the latter may examine the facts and arguments on which it did not rule in its 2014 judgment".

"Since the General Court's judgment has been set aside, the Council measures by which Hamas' funds continue to be frozen are to remain in force for the time being," it added.