February 17, 2022
Thursday 17 February 2022
PJCIS Chair welcomes Hamas’ terrorist listing
Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security James Paterson has welcomed the announcement by the Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews that the Morrison government will list the entire Hamas group as a terrorist organisation.
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.
The Brigades,Hamas’ paramilitary wing which is internationally recognised for terrorist attacks, was first listed as a terrorist organisation in Australia in November2003. 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 wellas the re-listing of al Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb and Jemaah Islamiyah.
