Hamas Condemns Australia's Plan To Label Them A Terrorist Group, Israel Thanks PM Morisson

Illustration of the Hamas group. (Wikimedia Commons/Hoheit (¿!))

JAKARTA - The Palestinian militant group Hamas has condemned Australia's plan to add them to a list of terrorist groups, calling it a bias in defense of Israel, with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett thanking PM Scott Morrison.

The Australian government plans to list the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas as a terrorist organization under the country's penal code, Home Minister Karen Andrews said.

A list by Australia of the whole group, not just the military wing as it is today, would bring Canberra's stance in line with the United States, European Union, and the United Kingdom.

"The views of Hamas and the violent extremist groups listed today are deeply disturbing and there is no place in Australia for their hateful ideology," Minister Andrews said in a statement.

Andrews said he had written to Australian state and territory leaders to consult with them on the full list of Hamas, "and will finalize the list as soon as possible".

In response, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told Al Jazeera they strongly condemn Australia's decision on Thursday, saying the move shows a clear bias against Israel.

Qassem added that Australia's planned list contravenes international law that protects the right of Palestinians to resist Israeli occupation.

"Hamas is a national liberation movement that opposes the occupation, in accordance with international law and resolutions and humanitarian treaties," Qassem explained.

"Those who should be classified as terrorists are the Israeli occupation, which deliberately targets Palestinians, in violation of international and humanitarian laws and treaties," he stressed.

Hamas was founded in 1987 and opposes Israel's existence and peace talks. Instead, they advocate 'armed resistance' against Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories.

"I welcome the news that Australia will include Hamas as a terrorist organization as a whole," Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement, thanking Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison for the move.

For information, currently, the military wing of Hamas, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, is on the list of Australian terrorist organizations.