A student union officer will face trial in June having denied expressing support for Hamas a day after the group’s attack on Israel.

Hanin Barghouthi, 22, appeared in court on a terrorism charge after being accused of expressing an “opinion or belief” in support of the banned organisation on October 8.

Barghouti, a women's officer at the University of Sussex student union, denied the charge when it was put to her in court today.

On October 7, militants from the terror group launched a surprise aerial assault to enter Israel from Gaza before killing more than 1,000 Israelis.

Appearing before Kingston Crown Court wearing a white blouse and black dress, Barghouthi spoke only to confirm her name and reply “not guilty, Your Honour” when the charge was put to her during the brief hearing.


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Barghouti, who lives in Brighton, is alleged to have made a four-minute-long speech which supported the actions of Hamas.

Barghouti was arrested after the rally on October 8 by the Clock Tower in Brighton city centre.

Hamas is designated as a terrorist group by the UK, the United States, Canada, Australia and the European Union.

Barghouthi was granted conditional bail ahead of her trial on June 10 in Kingston.

Her bail conditions ban her from obtaining international travel documents or using a mobile phone not authorised by police unless in an emergency, and she must also live and sleep at her address each night.

Judge Lodder told her: “If you break your conditions or if you fail to attend court as required you will be committing an offence.”

She will next appear in court on May 16.