Aus to extend terrorist tag to whole of Hamas

dpa Sydney The Australian government is set to list the “entirety of Hamas” as a terrorist organization, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said on Thurs...

dpa SydneyThe Australian government is set to list the “entirety of Hamas” as a terrorist organization, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said on Thursday.Andrews said Prime Minister Scott Morrison intended to list the Islamist Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, as terrorist organizations under the country’s criminal code.“The Morrison Government has zero tolerance for violence, and will continue to focus on keeping Australians safe from terrorism and violent extremism,” Andrews said in a statement.The Canberra government also listed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly the official Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, hardline al-Qaeda affiliate Huras al-Deen and US-based racist violent extremist group National Socialist Order.The government also re-listed Abu Sayyaf Group, al-Qaeda, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Islamic State and Jemaah Islamiyah.“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,” Andrews said.“Based on advice from the relevant Government agencies, I am satisfied these organisations meet the criteria to be listed as terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code.” Canberra listed Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, as a terrorist organization in 2003.Andrews aims to finalize the listing as soon as possible, the statement said Hamas seized power in the Gaza Strip in 2007. Israel, the European Union and the United States classify Hamas as a terrorist organization.