Pauline Hanson has accused Anthony Albanese of emboldening terrorists after a senior Hamas extremist praised his decision to recognise the state of Palestine.
On Wednesday, Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Youssef praised the n Prime Minister’s ‘courage’ in recognising the state of Palestine, a move the senior West Bank leader said vindicated the October 7 attacks.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, who opposes recognition without making security guarantees for Israel, said the endorsement should ‘send a chill down your spine’.
‘Albanese has handed a propaganda victory to terrorists,’ the Senator posted to social media on Thursday morning.
‘He’s rewarded violence. And he’s betrayed the values we stand for, freedom, democracy, and loyalty to our allies.
‘Every time weak leaders appease extremists, the world becomes more dangerous. And ns pay the price. This isn’t leadership. It’s surrender.’
Youssef, who has been arrested several times by Israel, said recognition by countries like had proven Hamas’ armed resistance had raised its diplomatic heft.
‘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 the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘Resistance has proven to be an effective means to break the siege and bring the Palestinian cause back to the international discussion table.’
It contradicts claims by Mr Albanese that Hamas would oppose ‘s decision to recognise Palestine as a step towards a two-state solution.
On Tuesday – the day after Mr Albanese announced would recognise Palestine at an upcoming UN General Assembly meeting – he said Hamas would be ‘totally opposed’ to recognition.
‘Hamas don’t support two states, they support one state,’ he told Channel Seven’s Sunrise program.
In a statement, Mr Albanese said the decision would ‘further isolate Hamas’ and relied on assurances made by the Palestinian Authority, the governing body in the West Bank.
Ms Hanson added the endorsement by Youssef posed a threat to ‘s security, claiming it would embolden domestic extremists.
‘I believe that we have fundamentalist terrorist cells in , that is going to give them some confidence in what they stand for, the radicalisation that is happening in this country,’ she told Sky News.
‘You lay down ground rules first and say: “This is what we want”.
‘You don’t give them what they want and then hope they’re going to get a democratic government, that Hamas will give up their weapons, they’ll hand over their hostages and the bodies of the dead and the dying and make an agreement.’
Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Michaelia Cash said Mr Albanese should ‘hang his head in shame’ after being praised by Hamas.
‘All ns should be appalled at the massive propaganda victory Mr Albanese has handed Hamas on a platter,’ she said.
On Thursday morning, Albanese told reporters he would ‘not be a cheer squad for Hamas’ and cast doubt on Youssef’s statement, claiming he has been imprisoned in Israel since October 2023 and has no way of communicating.
‘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,’ he said.
He urged the media not to ‘repeat Hamas’s propaganda.’
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has said the Coalition would revoke Palestinian recognition if elected in three years.
‘The Coalition would have never made this call and we do not agree with it,’ Ms Ley said in a statement on Tuesday.
is set to recognise the State of Palestine at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September along with Canada, France and the UK.