Anthony Albanese has criticized Hamas for distorting information for their ‘propaganda,’ alleging that one of the group’s founders—who praised the Labor government’s ‘brave’ decision to acknowledge Palestinian statehood—was actually incarcerated and unable to interact with the media.

On Monday, the Prime Minister announced Australia’s intention to recognize Palestinian statehood at the United Nations next month, aligning with similar commitments from Western allies such as the UK, France, and Canada.

He emphasized that this decision would be ‘strongly opposed’ by Hamas and mentioned that the Palestinian Authority assured him that the group would not influence any prospective Palestinian state.

Nevertheless, Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a key founder of Hamas and a senior leader in the West Bank, lauded the Labor government’s ‘political bravery’ in a statement given to Nine Newspapers.

He claimed the decision to recognise Palestine vindicated Hamas’s October 7 attack- the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

An Australian government representative responded by stating that the decision aims to ‘marginalize Hamas,’ while subtly criticizing the media for broadcasting the group’s perspectives.

‘Hamas always tries to manipulate facts for their own propaganda,’ the spokesperson said.

‘Media have a responsibility to make professional judgements to not promote propaganda of terrorist organisations to get cynical headlines.’

On Thursday morning, Albanese reiterated his stance, informing reporters that he would ‘not support Hamas’ and questioned the authenticity of Yousef’s statement, asserting that Yousef has been detained in Israel since October 2023 without any means of communication.

Sheikh Hassan Yousef (pictured), 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, claiming their decision to recognise Palestine vindicated Hamas’ s October 7 attack – the worst massacre of the Jews since the holocaust

‘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.’

Regardless, 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?’

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.

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.

Australia has listed Hamas as a terrorist organisation since 2022.