'Diplomatic mess': Prime Minister Anthony Albanese continues to 'pick and choose' what Hamas propaganda to run with
After Mr Albanese's move to recognise Palestine was from the office of Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef for his 'political courage', Mr Albanese then quoted a statement from Hamas on Thursday to suggest Yousef had 'no means of communication', alleging it was impossible for the terrorist leader to give the quote.
The Prime Minister said it 'should be a warning to the media' to be careful as 'Hamas will engage in propaganda'.
A short time after, the Sydney Morning Herald clarified that it had received the statement from Yousef's office in Beitunia in the West Bank which 'issues statements on his behalf'.
Sky News host Chris Kenny admonished the Prime Minister on Thursday and claimed Mr Albanese had gone along with the 'narrative promulgated by Hamas' in the demonisation of Israel and 'wild claims' of the events in Gaza, such as the alleged mass starvation.
'Now Albo has leapt upon another statement from Hamas saying Yousef didn't issue the statement because he's in an Israeli prison. Well yes, the terrorist leader has been in and out of prison but Nine media, who sourced the original statement, say it came from his office in the West Bank,' Kenny said.
'So all this had our Prime Minister today trying to blame the media for his diplomatic mess.
'Albanese knows his own office and those of other politicians constantly issue statements on behalf of their leaders. And how can he now pick and choose which propaganda statements from Hamas he believes and which he doesn't?'
Kenny said Mr Albanese had been 'so reckless' in buying Hamas' narrative and that he had inadvertently fed them a 'propaganda victory'
'Just about everything Albanese has said about Gaza from casualty numbers and claims of deliberate starvation, responses to orchestrated and misleading photographs, it's all been parroting the Hamas propaganda that's amplified by the media,' Kenny said.
In a separate statement to the ABC on Thursday, the terror group's official media spokesperson praised the Prime Minister's decision.
"We welcome Australia's decision to recognise the state of Palestine, and consider it a positive step towards the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people," Hamas media director Ismail Al-Thawabta said.
'Such a move reflects a growing global awareness of the necessity to end the injustice suffered by our people for decades.
'We call on the Australian government to translate this recognition into concrete actions — by exerting diplomatic pressure to end the Israeli occupation."
The group added that 'while recognition has come late' the move was 'better late than never.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Canberra Times
an hour ago
- Canberra Times
US stops visitor visas for people from Gaza
The State Department's move to stop visitor visas for people from Gaza comes after Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and an ally of President Donald Trump, said on social media on Friday that the Palestinian "refugees" had entered the US this month.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
US stops visitor visas for people from Gaza
The US State Department says it is halting all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza while it conducts "a full and thorough" review. The department said a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas had been issued in recent days, but did not provide a figure. The US issued more than 3800 B1/B2 visitor visas, which permit foreigners to seek medical treatment in the United States, to holders of the Palestinian Authority travel document, according to an analysis of monthly figures provided on the department's website. That figure includes 640 visas issued in May. The State Department's move to stop visitor visas for people from Gaza comes after Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and an ally of President Donald Trump, said on social media on Friday that the Palestinian "refugees" had entered the US this month. Loomer's statement sparked outrage among some Republicans, with Randy Fine describing it as a "national security risk". Gaza has been devastated by a war that was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel's offensive against Hamas in Gaza since then has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. The US has not indicated that it would accept Palestinians displaced by the war. However, sources told Reuters that South Sudan and Israel are discussing a plan to resettle Palestinians.
The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Australia grants asylum to HK pro-democracy activist
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Ted Hui has been granted asylum in Australia, the former MP says, more than four years after he left Hong Kong where he faces criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests. Hui said he received written notice from the Australian Department of Home Affairs on Friday approving his claim and that his wife, children and parents were also granted visas. "When people around me say 'congratulations' to me, although I politely thank them, I can't help but feel sad in my heart. How to congratulate a political refugee who misses his home town?" he said in a Facebook post on Saturday. "If it weren't for political persecution, I would never have thought of living in a foreign land. Immigrants can always return to their home towns to visit relatives at any time; exiles have no home." The Home Affairs Department did not immediately respond to emailed questions sent after business hours. The Hong Kong government and China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to questions about the decision. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Beijing in July as part of his administration's years-long push to improve ties with China. A former Democratic Party MP, Hui left Hong Kong in late 2020 after facing criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests. In 2023 Hong Kong accused him and seven others of national security offences, including incitement to secession, and put $HK1 million ($A196,000) bounties on their heads. Australia said it was disappointed by the decision at the time and concerned about the law. Pro-democracy businessman Jimmy Lai is on trial in Hong Kong on charges related to a national security law imposed by Beijing and alleged sedition. Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Ted Hui has been granted asylum in Australia, the former MP says, more than four years after he left Hong Kong where he faces criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests. Hui said he received written notice from the Australian Department of Home Affairs on Friday approving his claim and that his wife, children and parents were also granted visas. "When people around me say 'congratulations' to me, although I politely thank them, I can't help but feel sad in my heart. How to congratulate a political refugee who misses his home town?" he said in a Facebook post on Saturday. "If it weren't for political persecution, I would never have thought of living in a foreign land. Immigrants can always return to their home towns to visit relatives at any time; exiles have no home." The Home Affairs Department did not immediately respond to emailed questions sent after business hours. The Hong Kong government and China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to questions about the decision. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Beijing in July as part of his administration's years-long push to improve ties with China. A former Democratic Party MP, Hui left Hong Kong in late 2020 after facing criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests. In 2023 Hong Kong accused him and seven others of national security offences, including incitement to secession, and put $HK1 million ($A196,000) bounties on their heads. Australia said it was disappointed by the decision at the time and concerned about the law. Pro-democracy businessman Jimmy Lai is on trial in Hong Kong on charges related to a national security law imposed by Beijing and alleged sedition. Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Ted Hui has been granted asylum in Australia, the former MP says, more than four years after he left Hong Kong where he faces criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests. Hui said he received written notice from the Australian Department of Home Affairs on Friday approving his claim and that his wife, children and parents were also granted visas. "When people around me say 'congratulations' to me, although I politely thank them, I can't help but feel sad in my heart. How to congratulate a political refugee who misses his home town?" he said in a Facebook post on Saturday. "If it weren't for political persecution, I would never have thought of living in a foreign land. Immigrants can always return to their home towns to visit relatives at any time; exiles have no home." The Home Affairs Department did not immediately respond to emailed questions sent after business hours. The Hong Kong government and China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to questions about the decision. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Beijing in July as part of his administration's years-long push to improve ties with China. A former Democratic Party MP, Hui left Hong Kong in late 2020 after facing criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests. In 2023 Hong Kong accused him and seven others of national security offences, including incitement to secession, and put $HK1 million ($A196,000) bounties on their heads. Australia said it was disappointed by the decision at the time and concerned about the law. Pro-democracy businessman Jimmy Lai is on trial in Hong Kong on charges related to a national security law imposed by Beijing and alleged sedition. Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Ted Hui has been granted asylum in Australia, the former MP says, more than four years after he left Hong Kong where he faces criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests. Hui said he received written notice from the Australian Department of Home Affairs on Friday approving his claim and that his wife, children and parents were also granted visas. "When people around me say 'congratulations' to me, although I politely thank them, I can't help but feel sad in my heart. How to congratulate a political refugee who misses his home town?" he said in a Facebook post on Saturday. "If it weren't for political persecution, I would never have thought of living in a foreign land. Immigrants can always return to their home towns to visit relatives at any time; exiles have no home." The Home Affairs Department did not immediately respond to emailed questions sent after business hours. The Hong Kong government and China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to questions about the decision. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Beijing in July as part of his administration's years-long push to improve ties with China. A former Democratic Party MP, Hui left Hong Kong in late 2020 after facing criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests. In 2023 Hong Kong accused him and seven others of national security offences, including incitement to secession, and put $HK1 million ($A196,000) bounties on their heads. Australia said it was disappointed by the decision at the time and concerned about the law. Pro-democracy businessman Jimmy Lai is on trial in Hong Kong on charges related to a national security law imposed by Beijing and alleged sedition.
