An Egyptian court today banned all activities of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, an offshoot of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood, as the army-backed regime tightened its grip on the Islamist organisation ahead of the crucial polls.
The Cairo court also ordered the seizure of its assets and the suspension of all dealings with the group.
Egyptian authorities have accused Hamas of plotting with deposed Islamist president Mohammed Morsi of the Brotherhood to fuel insurgency and carry out "terror attacks" on security forces in the Sinai Peninsula, which borders Hamas-ruled Gaza and Israel.
The relationship between Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2006, and authorities in Egypt soured since the army toppled Morsi in July 2013 amid massive protests against his one-year turbulent rule.
Since then the army-backed regime has intensified operations against Islamists and several Brotherhood and Hamas leaders are facing trial on various charges, including espionage and plotting terror attack against Egypt.
Though the date for the presidential elections is not yet announced, authorities have cracked down heavily on Islamist groups, including Hamas which they classify as a significant security threat.
After the Egyptian government declared the Brotherhood a terrorist group in December 2013, Egyptian lawyer Samir Sabri had filed a lawsuit with the court asking it to brand Hamas a "terrorist" organisation and suspend any dealings with it.
The ruling by the Court of Urgent Matters did not directly declare the group a terrorist organisation. It temporarily banned all activities of Hamas, including its offshoots, associated groups, organisations or institutions.
Several Hamas militants have been named among scores of defendants on trial with Morsi for organising jailbreaks and attacking police stations during the 2011 revolt that toppled strongman Hosni Mubarak.
Hamas has denied any involvement in prison breaks or illegal cooperation with the ousted Islamist leader.
A senior Hamas official in Gaza condemned the verdict, saying it is a "political decision" directed against the Palestinian people and their resistance, media reports said.
Egypt has played a historic role in the reconciliation process between Israel and Palestinians.
Morsi and scores of Brotherhood leaders are in detention, facing a multitude of trials on a wide range of charges including several that carry the death penalty.
Two of those cases involve Hamas members, accused of assisting Morsi and others in escaping from prison. Morsi and others are also charged in a separate trial of leaking state secrets to Hamas.
