A senior legal adviser to the European Court of Justice has recommended that Hamas be removed from EU’s list of terror organisations.

Eleanor Sharpston argued that the EU "cannot rely on facts and evidence found in press articles and information from the internet, rather than in decisions of competent authorities, to support a decision to maintain a listing," the court said in a statement.

The EU first included Hamas on its terrorist list in late 2001.

The court ruled in 2014 it should be taken off the list on technical grounds, not as a reassessment of their classification as a terrorist group. Its legal advisers argued that listing had been based on "factual imputations derived from the press and the internet" rather than acts confirmed by authorities.

The Council of the EU, which represents all 28 governments, launched an appeal.

On Thursday, the court received advice on the case from Ms Sharpston. The top court generally follows these opinions. The final ruling is likely to take several more months.