Interesting news from Australia:
The head of Australia’s national security agency has backed listing the entirety of Palestinian group Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
ASIO director-general Mike Burgess told a parliamentary inquiry he did not have an issue with the listing of all of the group.
“Yes I would support it, but I am not the decision maker,” Mr Burgess said.
“There is a difference between Hamas and people who consider themselves Palestinian. If they support Hamas, then they would be supporting a terrorist organisation.”
Currently, only Hamas’ military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, is listed as a terrorist organisation.
The whole organisation was previously listed as a terror group in 2014, but was removed from the list soon after.
The inquiry was examining whether the Hamas brigades, along with four other groups, be formally re-listed as a terrorist organisation.
The director-general said Hamas’ brigades were assessed by ASIO to threaten military and civilian targets in Israel.
“As a consequence, they remain a security concern to ASIO, and we support the listing,” Mr Burgess said.
“ASIO has assessed (the brigades) as a highly capable terror organisation that are committed to using terror tactics in targeting Israel.”
The listing of all of Hamas as a terrorist organization would mean supporters of the group would be subject to counterterrorism laws.
If Mike Burgess’ advice is followed and Australia re-lists all of Hamas as a terror organization, this could have interesting implications for supporters of the Hamas government in Gaza, and their ability to enter Australia. And what about those who collude with Hamas, like certain journalists? How about those like George Galloway, who have handed over cash to Hamas?
Also, would this include BDS-holes? This is not clear:
Mr Burgess deferred questions as to whether protesters who use pro-Palestinian chants at rallies that form a part of a Hamas doctrine would be subject to terror laws.
Currently, only Canada, the European Union, Israel, Japan and the United States have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization, while Australia, New Zealand, Paraguay and the United Kingdom have designated only its military wing as such.
