Albanese dismisses Hamas propaganda applauding recognition
A statement on a Telegram channel in Hamas' name on Thursday disavowed comments reported in this masthead on Wednesday, quoting senior Hamas official Hassan Yousef applauding Australia for committing to recognise a Palestinian state.
'The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) denies the issuance of any statement by Sheikh Hassan Yousef, detained in occupation jails since October 19, 2023, on the Australian position regarding the recognition of the Palestinian state,' reads the new statement.
'Hamas affirms that Sheikh Hassan is held in poor detention conditions, cut off from the outside world, and has no means of communication with any local or international press outlets.'
The original comments were provided to this masthead on Tuesday by Yousef's political office in Beitunia, a town near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, which issues statements on his behalf.
Contacted on Thursday, a spokesperson for the office confirmed it had released the statement and that Youssef was still in jail, but said he was expected to be released soon.
'Hamas do not want a two-state solution,' Albanese told reporters at a press conference in Moreton Bay, Queensland.
'What they want is one state and I notice in the statement that's made today, they say that the alleged statement from the person yesterday [came from] someone who's been in prison in Israel since October 2023, and has no means of communication.
'What that should be is a warning to the media of being very careful about the fact that Hamas will engage in propaganda because what is happening is the international community are united about isolating Hamas, about supporting a peaceful way forward.'
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