Hamas should be removed from the EU's terrorism blacklist, a top European Court of Justice (ECJ) advisor has recommended.

In 2014, the court ruled that the Palestinian Islamist movement should be taken off the list on technical grounds.

Judges of the General Court ruled that EU leaders relied too heavily on media reports rather than their own investigations when they imposed asset freezes and travel bans on Hamas members.

At the time, Israel recalled Europe's treatment of Jews in the Holocaust and denounced the bloc's "staggering hypocrisy".

Hamas in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Hamas in pictures Hamas in pictures December 2014 Hamas top leader in the Gaza Strip Ismail Haniya (L), spokesman for the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obaida and Mussa Abu Marzuq (R) greet supporters during a parade marking the 27th anniversary of the Islamist movements creation in Gaza City Hamas in pictures December 2014 Hamas gunmen display their military skills during a rally to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the militant group AP Hamas in pictures December 2014 Masked members parade in a rally to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the Hamas militant group AP Hamas in pictures December 2014 Palestinian militants from the Ezzedine al-Qassam brigade, the armed wing of Hamas, carry mock-rockets as they march during a rally to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the Islamist movements creation, at the Nuseirat refugee camp in the Central Gaza Hamas in pictures November 2014 Palestinian young members of the Hamas' Popular Army parade during a graduation ceremony in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip Hamas in pictures November 2014 Members of Hamas security forces march during their graduation ceremony at the fisherman's port in Gaza City AP Hamas in pictures August 2014 Abu Abida (3L), spokesman for the armed wing of the Hamas speaks during a Hamas militants parade in Shejaiya Hamas in pictures August 2014 A Palestinian man kisses a Hamas militant sniper during a parade by Hamas militants in Shejaiya Hamas in pictures August 2014 Palestinian militants from the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades (L), Hamas' armed wing, attend a rally in Gaza City, following a deal hailed by Israel and the Islamist movement as 'victory' in the 50-day war Hamas in pictures August 2014 Palestinian mourners gather during the funeral of three senior Hamas commanders in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. Israeli warplanes killed three top Hamas commanders in southern Gaza inflicting a heavy blow on the movement's armed wing after failing to kill its top military chief

The advocate general at the European Court of Justice, whose advice is usually followed closely by judges, recommended they reject an appeal by the Council of EU member states against the 2014 court ruling.

Discussing Thursday's recommendation, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said: "This is only a [legal] opinion which is not binding on the court and is part of the European judicial process.

"We are convinced that the European Union will do all that is required in order to keep Hamas, an active terrorist group, on the European terror list."

The United States has urged the maintenance of sanctions on Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip and has fought Israel for three decades.

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The advocate general has also recommended that the Tamil Tigers be removed from the blacklist.

The Sri Lankan government provided evidence, which the court found lacking to support sanctions against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Members' assets remain frozen pending the appeal.

Both Hamas and the Tamil Tigers argue they were engaged in legal wars against Israel and the Sri Lankan government.

The General Court did not address whether the groups' actions merited inclusion on the list of terrorist organisations but ruled the procedures by which they had been put there were flawed.

The European Court of Justice said its justices were beginning their deliberations on the case and there was no set date for a ruling.