August 27, 2024
A fundraiser movie night for the Palestinian resistance has been accused of platforming a terrorist group with attendees to watch a film promoting female fighters in the militant wing of Hamas.
Federal opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson blasted the Melbourne organisers, claiming any event celebrating the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade was "abhorrent and illegal".
"The Brigade is the arm of Hamas responsible for planning and executing the worst slaughter of Jews in a single day since the Holocaust," Senator Paterson said. "It is a prima facie breach of our strong counterterrorism laws." The event promoted three "short documentary films highlighting the Palestinian resistance", with funds raised going to familes in Gaza.
It states the fundraiser is "organised in solidarity with Palestine and Palestinian resistance".
"We stand in solidarity with all indigenous people and unconditionally support their armed resistance . Please do not attend if these are not your values." The online event page was removed shortly after the Herald Sun contacted the organisers for comment. They later advised the event had been cancelled.
Senator Paterson welcomed the cancellation but said Australia shouldn't be reliant on media inquiries to stop such events proceeding.
"We need the federal government to show leadership and enforce the law so no one thinks it's a good idea to platform terrorists in the future," he said.
Meanwhile, Jewish community groups have backed the Coalition's push to establish a commission of inquiry into anti-Semitism at Australian universities that would have the powers of a royal commission.
The federal government was contacted for comment.
