Hamas has praised Anthony Albanese’s decision to recognise Palestine as a state, with the listed terror group claiming it vindicates their October 7 massacre.
The Prime Minister revealed on Monday that Australia would recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations next month, following similar commitments made by other Western allies, including the UK, France, and Canada.
He insisted the move would be ‘totally opposed’ by Hamas, who the Palestinian Authority had assured him would play no role in any future state.
But Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a co-founder of Hamas and one of the terror group’s most senior figures in the West Bank, has welcomed the Labor government’s move and called on other Western nations to follow suit.
‘We welcome Australia’s decision to recognise the state of Palestine, and consider it an important step towards achieving justice for our people and securing their legitimate rights,’ Yousef told the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘This position reflects political courage and a commitment to the values of justice and the right of peoples to self-determination.
‘We call on all countries, especially those that believe in freedom and human dignity, to follow Australia’s example and translate their positions into practical steps to support the Palestinian people and end their suffering under occupation.’
Yousef, who is considered one of the spiritual leaders of Hamas, even said Albanese’s decision had vindicated the October 7 attacks.
Sheikh Hassan Yousef (pictured), a co-founder of Hamas and one of the terror group’s most senior figures in the West Bank, has welcomed the Labor government’s move to recognise Palestinian statehood, claiming it justifies their October 7 attack
‘Yes, we believe that the escalation of armed resistance, including the operations carried out on October 7, has significantly contributed to highlighting the suffering of the Palestinian people and the injustice they face,’ he told the paper.
‘These operations have drawn global attention to the Palestinian cause and compelled many countries and organisations to reconsider their positions, leading to greater support and recognition of Palestine as a state by some countries.
‘Resistance has proven to be an effective means to break the siege and bring the Palestinian cause back to the international discussion table.’
Labor’s long-awaited announcement triggered a flurry of furious criticism from Israel, Jewish groups in Australia and the Opposition, all of whom accused them of playing into Hamas’s hands by effectively ‘rewarding terrorism’.
The crisis in Gaza began when Hamas terrorists stormed the Nova music festival in Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking around 250 more hostage.
It represented the worst massacre of Jews in a single day since the Holocaust.
In the two years since, Israel’s military response has killed more than 61,000 people, according to Gaza’s health authorities.
Australia has listed Hamas as a terrorist organisation since 2022.
Anthony Albanese insisted the move would be ‘totally opposed’ by Hamas, who the Palestinian Authority had assured him would play no role in any future state
More to come.
