Australia is following in the footsteps of the United Kingdom with this move. The UK made an identical designation back in November.
Australia announced on Thursday its intention to designate the entirety of the Hamas movement as a terrorist organization, Australian media reported. The designation will come into effect in the next few weeks, Army Radio noted. It had previously listed the Izzadin al-Qassam, Hamas’ military wing, as a terror group. This fresh designation will include the whole group.
The decision was discussed by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the COP26 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Australia is following in the footsteps of the United Kingdom with this move. The UK made an identical designation back in November.
I welcome the news that Australia will list Hamas as a terrorist organization in its entirety.
Thank you to my friend @ScottMorrisonMP for following through on our dialogue on this important matter.
This is another important step in the global fight against terrorism. pic.twitter.com/wQOJHVNr2c
— Naftali Bennett בנט (@naftalibennett) February 17, 2022
Australian Home Affairs Minister, Karen Andrews, said that “the views of Hamas and the violent extremist groups listed today are deeply disturbing and there is no place in Australia for such views. It is vital that our laws target not only terrorist acts and terrorists but also the organizations that plan, finance and carry out these acts,” according to The Australian.
The Australian Parliament Intelligence and Security Committee Chair James Paterson said in addition that any Australian supporting Hamas could be committing a serious crime – a powerful deterrent to make Australia safer,” the report added.
A person found guilty of a terrorist organization offense in Australia faces 25 years in jail.
The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA), the Australian Zionist umbrella organization, welcomed the announcement shortly after its announcement. The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) also welcomed Andrews’ announcement.
“By taking this decision, the Minister has made clear Australia’s absolute rejection of hatred and terrorism. There is absolutely no doubt that Hamas in its entirety meets the definition of [a] terrorist organization,” ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said. “Not only is this decision the right one in terms of Australian law, but it also brings Australia into alignment with the UK, Canada, US and EU positions on Hamas.”
AIJAC Executive Director, Dr. Colin Rubenstein, said that “for many years, AIJAC has been arguing that Australia’s partial listing of Hamas was inadequate.”
Minister for Home Affairs @karenandrewsmp announced today that Australia will list #Hamas, in its entirety, as a terrorist organisation.
Hamas is a Gaza-based jihadi group responsible for the deaths of Israelis and Palestinians alike.
Full AIJAC statement https://t.co/Xe8R05yPOV pic.twitter.com/9d43t5M4Zl— AIJAC (@AIJAC_Update) February 17, 2022
Andrews has also stated that she will add Syrian jihadist groups Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and Hurras al-Din, as well as neo-Nazi group National Socialist Order to Australia’s list of banned terror organizations.
Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked (Yamina) welcomed the announcement: “Australia has, once again, chosen to be on the right side of history.” Foreign Minister Yair Lapid commended Australia for the move, calling it “important” to the global fight against terror.
In November, Australia designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, along with white supremacist neo-Nazi organization The Base.
In a similar move, at the time, Australia had previously only designated Hezbollah’s External Security Organization a terrorist organization in 2003. In designating Hezbollah entirely as a terrorist organization, Australia joined the US, UK, Israel, Canada and Germany.
As reported by The Jerusalem Post