Hamas has expressed approval of Anthony Albanese’s decision to recognize Palestine as a state, with the designated terror group asserting that it validates their October 7 massacre.

The Prime Minister announced on Monday that Australia would recognize Palestinian statehood at the United Nations next month, aligning with similar commitments from other Western allies, such as 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.

However, Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a Hamas co-founder and one of the group’s leading figures in the West Bank, has supported the Labor government’s decision and urged other Western countries to do the same.

‘We welcome Australia’s decision to recognize the state of Palestine and regard it as 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 urge all nations, especially those that advocate for freedom and human dignity, to follow Australia’s lead and convert their positions into concrete actions to support the Palestinian people and alleviate their suffering under occupation.’

Yousef, who is considered one of the spiritual leaders of Hamas, even said Albanese’s decision had vindicated the October 7 attacks. 

‘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 the paper. 

‘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.’

This stands in stark contrast to Albanese’s claim that Hamas would be ‘unhappy’ about the Australia’s decision to recognise Palestine as a state.  

‘I’ve seen some of the comments that have been made about Hamas somehow being rewarded. Hamas is opposed to two states. This is the opposite of what Hamas wants,’ the Prime Minister told Today.

Albanese said on Monday that his government’s backing of Palestinian statehood was contingent on the promise that Hamas would play no future role in the Palestinian state, free elections would be held and that he the region will demilitarise.

But Yousef insisted that Hamas would not consider any elections legitimate unless Hamas were on the ballot paper. 

‘We believe that elections must be inclusive of all Palestinian factions, and excluding Hamas means sidelining a large segment of Palestinians,’ he told the SMH.

‘Only through free and fair elections in which everyone participates can the true legitimacy of the Palestinian Authority be achieved.’

A government spokesperson said:  ‘What Australia has done is contribute international momentum towards a two-state solution, which Hamas opposes. 

‘We are supporting the Arab League’s efforts to isolate Hamas.

‘Hamas always tries to manipulate facts for their own propaganda. Media have a responsibility to make professional judgements to not promote propaganda of terrorist organisations to get cynical headlines.’

Labor’s long-awaited announcement triggered a flurry of furious criticism from Israel, Jewish groups in Australia and the Opposition, all of whom accused them of playing into Hamas’s hands by effectively ‘rewarding terrorism’. 

Israel’s ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon unleashed on the decision, claiming ‘peace is built by ending terror, not rewarding it’.

‘By recognising a Palestinian state while Hamas continues to kill, kidnap and reject peace, Australia undermines Israel’s security, derails hostage negotiations and hands a victory to those who oppose coexistence,’ Mr Maimon said. 

He added: ‘Rewarding those who use terror as a political tool sends the dangerous message that violence brings political gains.’

‘By recognising a Palestinian state now, Australia elevates the position of Hamas, a group it acknowledges as a terrorist organisation, while weakening the cause of those working to end violence and achieve genuine, lasting peace.’ 

Meanwhile, Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) president Daniel Aghion KC effectively predicted Yousef’s response when he said: ‘Hamas and other Islamist groups will see that barbarity on a grand scale can lead to desired political transformation.’

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.

Australia has listed Hamas as a terrorist organisation since 2022.