Hamas proscribed as a terrorist organisation in its entirety: more political support
The Federal Member for Wentworth, Dave Sharma MP, has welcomed the announcement by the Federal Government of its intention to list Hamas as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code in its entirety.
Dave Sharma
The decision follows a recommendation from the bipartisan Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security in October 2021.
Dave Sharma MP said “This is a welcome and long-awaited decision.
Anyone who has seen the murderous actions of Hamas up close, as I have, can have no doubt that the entirety of the organisation is engaged in terrorism.
From firing rockets indiscriminately into Israeli civilian towns to digging tunnels to infiltrate armed terrorists, the sole reason for being of Hamas is to engage in terrorist attacks against Israel.
I have seen the brutal and arbitrary way that Hamas rules over the Palestinian population of Gaza, with little regard for their health or welfare. They have no interest in looking after their own people. Their sole interest is the destruction of Israel.”
Mr Sharma said he had been making the case for the listing of Hamas in its entirety as a terrorist organisation for several years, from the time he was Australian Ambassador to Israel.
“Since being elected to Parliament, I have raised this issue on multiple occasions with Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews MP, and her predecessor in that role, Peter Dutton MP.
I am very pleased that the Government has now decided to act, and proceed to listing Hamas in its entirety,” said Mr Sharma.
Meanwhile, Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security James Paterson also welcomed the announcement by the Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews.
This decision acts upon the recommendation of the PJCIS in its October 2021 report to expand the terrorist listing of Hamas’ Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (the Brigades) to its entire organisation.
Senator James Paterson addresses the Senate
The Brigades, Hamas’ paramilitary wing which is internationally recognised for terrorist attacks, was first listed as a terrorist organisation in Australia in November 2003. It has been re-listed ever since, and in its 2018 listing review, the PJCIS noted widespread support for expanding its listing to include the entire organisation but made no recommendation in that regard.
It was only in the 2021 that the Committee recommended listing the entire Hamas organisation in light of overwhelming evidence that the group operates as a singular entity, with a singular leadership structure and overlapping finances and personnel.
Senator Paterson said this important decision by the Morrison government would send a strong message to the world that Australia will not tolerate political violence and will always stand up for liberal democratic values.
“The Morrison government cannot and will not turn a blind eye to the campaign of violent terror against innocent civilians which is so evidently organised, financed and authorised by Hamas’ leadership,” Senator Paterson said.
It also means that any Australian supporting Hamas could be committing a serious crime – a powerful deterrent to make Australia safer.
I thank Minister Andrews for acting on the Committee’s advice and I commend the Morrison government’s response to the overwhelming evidence that all of Hamas is responsible for the atrocities committed by its paramilitary wing,” Senator Paterson said.
Senator Paterson also welcomed the listing of 3 other terrorist organisations, including Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, Huras al-Din and the National Socialist Order, as well as the re-listing of al Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb and Jemaah Islamiyah.
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