The director of a pro-Palestinian campaign group was hosted in Parliament by Leicester South MP Shockat Adam, despite being accused by US authorities of being “one of the senior Hamas members in Europe”.
The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) was welcomed to the House of Commons last month for a discussion on Palestinian rights.
The event took place weeks after the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated PRC director Majed al-Zeer as a “prominent international financial supporter of Hamas”.
The Independent MP, who won his seat running on a pro-Gaza ticket, posted that it had been an “honour” to chair the group’s discussion.
According to the US Treasury, Majed al-Zeer has “played a central role in the terrorist group’s European fundraising”
Reuters
The November 26 event was titled “Defending Palestinian Rights: Humanitarian and Legal Perspectives”.
According to the US Treasury, al-Zeer has “played a central role in the terrorist group’s European fundraising”.
The statement claimed he “has appeared publicly with other senior Hamas members in order to generate funding and other support for Hamas”.
Al-Zeer remains listed on Companies House as the sole director of the PRC, which describes itself as a consultancy promoting Palestinians’ rights including their “right to return” to Israel.
German authorities last year accused al-Zeer of being Hamas’s key liaison in Europe, according to a file from the German interior ministry first reported by Der Spiegel.
Israel has long maintained the PRC has Hamas connections. In 2010, then-Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak declared the PRC an illegal association.
Shockat Adam posted that it had been an “honour” to chair the group’s discussion
Parliament
Israeli security agency Shin Bet claimed the PRC’s “activities are part of Hamas’s activities in the Palestinian communities in Europe in general and Britain in particular”.
In a recent report on Gaza, the PRC described Hamas as a “resistance group”.
A PRC spokesman strongly denied any Hamas connections, stating: “The PRC is an independent advocacy organisation dedicated to promoting Palestinian human rights within the framework of international law.”
The spokesman added that al-Zeer “has not held any position at the PRC since 2019” and has consistently rejected allegations of Hamas links.
Adam defended hosting the event, saying: “The PRC is a non-party, independent advocacy group that highlights the plight of the millions of Palestinian refugees.
The discussion took place in the House of Commons
Wikipedia
“It is ludicrous to suggest this meeting had anything to do with any terrorist organisation or advocated violence in any way.”
Labour MP Abtisam Mohamed revealed she was originally meant to chair the event but was unable to attend for personal reasons.
She said: “I did not arrange or attend the event, but I apologise for undertaking insufficient research following the request to chair this event in Parliament.”
“I am contacted by many organisations to chair events and I would not do so for the organisation in future.
“An immediate ceasefire is vital in order to find a lasting solution to this crisis in the Middle East.”
