The Australian government announced on Thursday that it would list Hamas, in its entirety, as a terrorist organisation.

Hamas, which has complete control of the Gaza Strip, has long terrorised Israel and the citizens of Gaza. Hamas openly seeks to destroy Israel and has called for the killing of Jews around the world. Hamas has fired thousands of rockets into Israeli civilian areas, each one a war crime, and has orchestrated campaigns of suicide bombings and deadly attacks.

“The views of Hamas and the violent extremist groups listed today are deeply disturbing, and there is no place in Australia for their hateful ideologies,” said Australian Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews.

Australia had previously only designated Hamas’ military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades as terrorists. Although the terrorist group themselves makes no such separation.

The new designation will place restrictions on financing or providing other support to Hamas — with certain offences carrying a 25-year prison sentence.

“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 news of Hamas being outlawed in Australia has been welcomed by Israeli politicians.

Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett welcomed the development and thanked his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison “for following through on our dialogue on this important matter.”

“This is another important step in the global fight against terrorism,” Bennett tweeted.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz tweeted his gratitude to Australia for “designating the entirety of Hamas as a terrorist organization — including its political wing which plans, finances and conducts terror activities. Hamas targets civilians, threatens the State of Israel, and holds Gaza residents hostage.”

Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked also praised the move as a follow-up to Australia last year labeling the Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah group as a terror organization, tweeting that: “Australia again chose the right side of history.”

Last year the UK outlawed Hamas in its entirety. Other countries that have done the same include the United States and the European Union. Australia has also outlawed Hezbollah, the terrorist group in Lebanon that also threatens Israel’s security.

It is good to see more countries take seriously the threat of Hamas. Let’s hope these laws can stamp out support for the terrorist group in their respective countries.

Related Articles:

Gaza aid hypocrisy: Israel feeds. Hamas kills. The world distorts.

Over the past few weeks the world has erupted in outrage over false claims made about Israel, not over the crimes of Hamas, but over the claims of Hamas. Every time the...

“We should thank Israel for defending us all,” says British colonel

Israel is fighting to defend the Western world, according to Colonel Richard Kemp, who says that millions of lives may have been saved by Israel's actions today. The former commander of the British...

“The people shall rise up as a great lion” – Netanyahu’s Western Wall note placed only hours before strikes on Iran

When Prime Minister Netanyahu visited the Western Wall on Thursday, few would have recognised that it was a foreshadow of what was about to happen a few hours later. Thursday was the official...

Israel’s strikes could have saved millions of lives: why Israel has struck Iran now

Operation Rising Lion cripples Iran’s nuclear and missile sites, killing the IRGC leader and senior commanders. Netanyahu warns: “If we don’t act now, we simply won’t be here.” Colonel Kemp says:...

CUFI says ‘No State for Jew Hate’ in new campaign against UK recognising a Palestinian state

CUFI has launched a new campaign calling for the UK government to not recognise a Palestinian state. It comes after reports that the UK and France could jointly give recognition at the UN Summit...

Why Israel? 

Free Ebook

Why Israel answers the critical questions and presents the essential reasons why Israel matters to God, to Christians and to the world. 

Become a member of CUFI and receive these mini-books and exclusive lapel-pin