Australia classifies Hamas as a terrorist group

Australia announced on Thursday that will classify the entire Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas as a terrorist organizationa, following the example of the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom.

The oceanic country had already registered the armed wing of Hamas as a terrorist organization, the Ezedin al Qassam brigades, but now it does so with the entire organization that controls the Gaza Strip. This will create restrictions on funding or support for Hamas, with some actions punishable by up to 25 years in prison.

“It is vital that our laws affect not only terrorist acts and terrorists, but also the organizations that planfund and carry out these attacks,” Home Secretary Karen Andrews said.

The movement that controls the fringe of Gaza since 2007 had long been declared on the US list of terrorist organizations and the European Union. The UK did not do so until last November.

​RM

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