Latest news with #SheikhHassanYousef
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Albanese says ‘Hamas will engage in propaganda' amid confusion over statements on Palestinian statehood
Anthony Albanese has warned media about Hamas propaganda, amid confusion regarding statements reportedly made by the terrorist group in relation to Australia's pledge to recognise a Palestinian state. Nine newspapers reported on Wednesday that the Hamas co-founder and senior official Sheikh Hassan Yousef had welcomed the decision, praising Australia's 'political courage' and calling on other countries to follow its example. But the group later said Yousef was in jail and not able to communicate with media outlets. Nine clarified on Thursday that the statement was from Yousef's office not the man himself. Australian Associated Press reported that Hamas's foreign relations chief, Istanbul-based Dr Basem Naim, had poured cold water on the veracity of the Yousef statement. 'Sheikh Yousef is in an Israeli jail for years now. I'm very surprised ... I doubt it's true,' he said referring to the statement attributed to Yousef. Guardian Australia reported the government's response to Nine's Wednesday report and the quotes attributed to Yousef. Critics of the Albanese government, including the federal Coalition and conservative media commentators, seized on the statement attributed to Yousef when attacking Labor's decision to recognise Palestine. The opposition's foreign affairs spokesperson, Michaelia Cash, claimed Albanese should 'hang his head in shame after being praised today by the terrorist group Hamas'. The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, pointed to 'the Hamas co-founder praising our prime minister for this decision'. Nine clarified on Thursday the statement had been issued by Yousef's political office in the West Bank, which it said 'issues statements on his behalf', and that Yousef was in prison. A statement on an English-language Telegram channel, purportedly run by Hamas, stated that Yousef was 'being held in poor conditions and is cut off from the outside world, with no means of communication with local or international press outlets'. It denied he had made any statement on Australia's recognition of a Palestinian state. AAP reported Naim referred to the Telegram statement, confirming its veracity. Albanese on Thursday said: 'Hamas do not want a two-state solution.' 'What they want is one state,' the prime minister said. 'And I noticed in the [Telegram] statement that's made today, they say that the alleged statement from the person yesterday is 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 is united about isolating Hamas, about supporting a peaceful way forward.' Ley on Thursday again claimed the terrorist group had given 'full-throated praise of the prime minister'. The government on Wednesday cautioned against legitimising the statement attributed to Yousef, with a spokesperson claiming Hamas 'always tries to manipulate facts for their own propaganda'. 'Media have a responsibility to make professional judgments to not promote propaganda of terrorist organisations to get cynical headlines,' they said. Nine on Thursday said the earlier statement attributed to Yousef had been provided by his political office in the occupied West Bank 'which issues statements on his behalf'. Nine said Yousef's office 'confirmed it had released the statement and that Youssef was still in jail'. Nine on Wednesday initially reported: 'Yousef, one of Hamas' most senior leaders in the occupied West Bank, said in a statement to this masthead.' Nine later added a clarification noting 'this story has been updated to clarify the statement was issued by Sheikh Hassan Yousef's office and that he is held in prison. A subsequent statement issued via a Telegram channel in Hamas's name has also been added to the story'. Nine declined to comment further. The ABC on Wednesday reported on a statement attributed to the Hamas media director, Ismail Al-Thawabta, that Australia's move to recognise a Palestinian state '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 ABC reported Al-Thawabta as saying. Guardian Australia sought comment from Al-Thawabta and the Hamas-run Ministry of Information in Gaza. – Additional reporting Australian Associated Press
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Bombshell twist in Hamas statement praising Anthony Albanese's Palestine move
Hamas has distanced itself from comments reportedly made by one of its co-founders praising Anthony Albanese's decision to recognise Palestinian statehood. Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a co-founder of Hamas and one of its most senior figures in the West Bank, purportedly told Nine Newspapers on Wednesday he welcomed the 'political courage' of the Labor government. He also claimed the decision to recognise Palestine vindicated Hamas' s October 7 attack - the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. But now a statement published on Hamas's English-language Telegram channel on Thursday has 'denie(d) 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'. '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 statement added. This was echoed by Albanese, who told reporters he would 'not be a cheer squad for Hamas'. 'What that should be is a warning to the media to be very careful about the fact that Hamas will engage in propaganda, because what is happening is that the international community are united about isolating Hamas, about supporting a peaceful way forward,' Albanese added. He urged the media not to 'repeat Hamas's propaganda'. Nine Newspapers, who broke the original statement said to be from Yousef, reported on Thursday that the comments had been provided by the former Hamas leader's 'office in Beitunia, a town near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, which issues statements on his behalf'. Despite the apparent disconnect, Hamas still issued a statement applauding the Labor government's decision to recognise Palestine. 'Such a move reflects a growing global awareness of the necessity to end the injustice suffered by our people for decades,' Hamas media director Ismail Al-Thawabta told the ABC. 'We call on the Australian government to translate this recognition into concrete actions — by exerting diplomatic pressure to end the Israeli occupation.' The Opposition has predictably seized on the decision to recognise Palestinian statehood, with Liberal deputy leader Sussan Ley accusing the Prime Minister of 'making a real mess of this.' 'On the same day, a listed terror organisation calls our prime minister a hero, while our closest ally, the US, says that these actions are going to make peace in the region less likely,' she told Nine on Thursday morning. 'So, it's really quite extraordinary, because remember, the Prime Minister used justification for this decision by saying Hamas would not be involved. 'And I saw the Treasurer yesterday saying, 'Oh, Hamas will have no role in a future Palestinian state.' Really? As if we can control these things?' In response, an Australian government spokesperson stuck to the line that their decision was designed to 'isolate Hamas' - before tacitly criticising the media for airing Hamas's position Shadow Foreign Minister Michaelia Cash said the decision was a gift to the proscribed terrorist group. 'All Australians should be appalled at the massive propaganda victory Mr Albanese has handed Hamas on a platter,' Cash said on Wednesday. The decision also provoked the ire of Israel, with the country's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar reposting a news article about Hamas praising Albanese. 'Hamas loves Anthony Albanese,' Sa'ar wrote, using a heart emoji for 'loves'. On Monday, the Prime Minister announced that Australia would recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations next month, following similar commitments from other Western allies, including the UK, France, and Canada.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Anthony Albanese's extraordinary excuse for being endorsed by terrorists - as he makes an astonishing claim about the Hamas leader who praised him
Anthony Albanese accused Hamas of manipulating facts for their own 'propaganda', claiming that one of the founders of the terrorist group who praised the Labor government's 'courageous' decision to recognise Palestinian statehood was actually in prison and had no way of communicating with the media. The Prime Minister revealed on Monday that Australia would recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations next month, following similar commitments made by other Western allies, including the UK, France, and Canada. He insisted the move would be 'totally opposed' by Hamas, who the Palestinian Authority had assured him would play no role in any future state. But Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a co-founder of Hamas and one of the terror group's most senior figures in the West Bank, welcomed the 'political courage' of the Labor government in a statement to Nine Newspapers, claiming their decision to recognise Palestine vindicated Hamas' s October 7 attack - the worst massacre of the Jews since the holocaust. In response, an Australian government spokesperson stuck to the line that their decision was designed to 'isolate Hamas' - before tacitly criticising the media for airing Hamas's position. 'Hamas always tries to manipulate facts for their own propaganda,' the spokesperson added. 'Media have a responsibility to make professional judgements to not promote propaganda of terrorist organisations to get cynical headlines.' Albanese doubled down on Thursday morning, telling reporters he would 'not be a cheer squad for Hamas' - before casting doubt on Yousef's statement, claiming he has been in prison in Israel since October 2023 and has no way of communicating. '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 that the international community are united about isolating Hamas, about supporting a peaceful way forward,' Albanese added. He urged the media not to 'repeat Hamas's propaganda'. Regardless, the Opposition has predictably seized on the decision to recognise Palestinian statehood, with Liberal leader Sussan Ley accusing the PM of 'making a real mess of this'. 'On the same day, a listed terror organisation calls our prime minister a hero, while our closest ally, the US, says that these actions are going to make peace in the region less likely,' she told Nine on Thursday morning. 'So, it's really quite extraordinary, because remember, the Prime Minister used justification for this decision by saying Hamas would not be involved. 'And I saw the treasurer yesterday saying, "Oh, Hamas will have no role in a future Palestinian state." Really? As if we can control these things?' Shadow Foreign Minister Michaelia Cash said that the decision was a gift to the proscribed terrorist group. 'All Australians should be appalled at the massive propaganda victory Mr Albanese has handed Hamas on a platter,' Cash said on Wednesday. In response, an Australian government spokesperson stuck to the line that their decision was designed to 'isolate Hamas' - before tacitly criticising the media for airing Hamas's position The decision also provoked the ire of Israekl, with the country's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar reposting a news article about Hamas praising Albanese. 'Hamas loves Anthony Albanese,' Sa'ar wrote, using a heart emoji for 'loves'. Perhaps most appallingly, Yousef claimed that the Albanese administration's move was a vindication of Hamas's October 7 slaughter that triggered the current two-year war. 'Yes, we believe that the escalation of armed resistance, including the operations carried out on October 7, has significantly contributed to highlighting the suffering of the Palestinian people and the injustice they face,' he told Nine Newspapers. 'These operations have drawn global attention to the Palestinian cause and compelled many countries and organisations to reconsider their positions, leading to greater support and recognition of Palestine as a state by some countries. 'Resistance has proven to be an effective means to break the siege and bring the Palestinian cause back to the international discussion table.' Alex Ryvchin, Co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, has spoken of his lack of faith in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's understanding of the situation in Gaza and Hamas's strategy. 'The Prime Minister framed the recognition of Palestine as a defeat for Hamas because of its violent opposition to a two-state solution and desire to replace Israel with a Palestinian state from the river to the sea,' Mr Ryvchin posted on X on Wednesday. 'He is right about Hamas's intentions but wrong about how they see the struggle. They're playing the long game. They view the recognition of a Palestinian state alongside Israel as a leap towards eventual conquest and slaughter of the Jews. 'This is why they praise our Prime Minister. They feel like October 7 has worked perfectly and now brought them a step closer to total victory. 'Western governments have unwittingly signalled that spectacular acts of violence bring desired political outcomes. In other words, terrorism works because we let it.' The crisis in Gaza began when Hamas terrorists stormed the Nova music festival in Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking around 250 more hostage. It represented the worst massacre of Jews in a single day since the Holocaust. In the two years since, Israel's military response has killed more than 61,000 people, according to Gaza's health authorities.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Hamas praises Anthony Albanese's 'courage' for recognising Palestinian statehood - as terror group claims Labor's landmark move vindicates its attack on Israel
Hamas has praised Anthony Albanese 's decision to recognise Palestine as a state, with the listed terror group claiming it vindicates their October 7 massacre. The Prime Minister revealed on Monday that Australia would recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations next month, following similar commitments made by other Western allies, including the UK, France, and Canada. He insisted the move would be 'totally opposed' by Hamas, who the Palestinian Authority had assured him would play no role in any future state. But Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a co-founder of Hamas and one of the terror group's most senior figures in the West Bank, has welcomed the Labor government's move and called on other Western nations to follow suit. 'We welcome Australia's decision to recognise the state of Palestine, and consider it an important step towards achieving justice for our people and securing their legitimate rights,' Yousef told the Sydney Morning Herald. ' This position reflects political courage and a commitment to the values of justice and the right of peoples to self-determination. 'We call on all countries, especially those that believe in freedom and human dignity, to follow Australia's example and translate their positions into practical steps to support the Palestinian people and end their suffering under occupation.'
