SYDNEY- The Australian government will list the entirety of Palestinian group Hamas as a ‘terrorist organization’, including its political wing, Australian Home affairs minister Karen Andrews declared on Thursday.
Andrews denounced the views of Hamas as “deeply disturbing”, adding, “There is no place in Australia for their hateful ideologies.”
“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,” Andrews added.
The armed wing of Hamas was already listed by Australia, but Canberra will now join the United Kingdom, the United States, and Israel in extending the designation to the group’s political branch.
The designation will place restrictions on financing or providing other support to Hamas, with certain offenses carrying a 25-year prison sentence.
