Israel-Hamas: Australia sanctions terrorist group Hamas, Hezbollah

Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced further counter-terrorism and financing sanctions would be slapped on 12 people and three companies linked to Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestine Islamic Jihad.

According to the Foreign Minister, the individuals and businesses have supported and helped to facilitate terrorist attacks carried out by the proscribed terrorist organisations.

“This is concurrent with further sanctions imposed on Hamas-linked targets by the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union,” Senator Wong said.

Individuals hit with sanctions include Tehran-based Hamas member Khaled Qaddoumi, whom the US has accused of as acting a liaison between Hamas and the Iranian government.

Australia has also accused Sudan-based private investment firm LarryCom and Spain-based company Zawaya Group for Development Investment Sociedad Limitada of assisting terrorists in the Middle East.

The new sanctions follow ones already imposed by Australia, the UK and the US in the weeks after Hamas’ attack on Southern Israel on October 7 that killed 1200 people.

Senator Wong said Australians faces up to 10 years in prison and/or heavy fines if they were found to have dealt with any of the listed individuals or companies.

Upon returning from her three-day tour of Israel and occupied Palestine, the Foreign Minister chose not to directly address Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments rejecting an independent Palestinian state.

Mr Netanyahu doubled down on his opposition towards a two-state solution, a policy supported by Labor, just hours after a meeting with US President Joe Biden.

In a statement posted on X, the Israeli leader wrote that “after Hamas is destroyed, Israel must retain security control over Gaza to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel, a requirement that contradicts the demand for Palestinian sovereignty”.

Senator Wong reiterated her wish to see progress towards statehood for Gazans while speaking to reporters on Tuesday.

“I just returned from the Middle East. And (what) I want to say is that has reaffirmed my view and the government’s view that any pathway to peace requires progress towards an independent Palestinian state,” she said.

“That is the best route to ensure peace, security and dignity for the Palestinian people and also for Israelis.”

Speaking earlier, opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said the potential for a two-state solution depended on many steps.

“We need to see hostages completely return and there needs to be a setting put in place to provide for security across Palestinian regions,” he said.

The comments come after Western allies announced additional Australian-backed strikes carried out against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on Monday.

Missiles were launched against eight Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the group’s attacks against oil tankers and commercial ships transiting through the Red Sea, according to the Pentagon.

The group have launched more than 30 attacks in the waterway since mid-November and have vowed to continue to target ships travelling to Israel.

In a joint statement from the UK, Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands, the allies declared that militaries “will not hesitate to defend lives” and the free flow of commerce in the region.

“These precision strikes are intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade and the lives of innocent,” the statement read.