Entirety of Hamas, National Socialist Order added to terror group list

Australia has today listed several new groups as terror organisations, making it a criminal offence to be a member.

Australia will list the entirety of Hamas and white supremacist group National Socialist Order as terrorist organisations, making it a criminal offence to be a member.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews announced the groups — along with extremist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, Hurras al-Din — had been targeted by Australia as part of a “zero tolerance” for violence.

“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,” Ms Andrews said.

“Terrorist organisation offences include penalties of up to 25 years imprisonment.”

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews has announced Australia will add all of Hamas to list of terror organisations under the criminal code. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Ms Andrews said it was vital Australia’s laws targeted not only terrorist acts and terrorists, but also the organisations that plan, finance and carry out these acts.

“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,” she said.

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham is a Sunni Islamist religiously-motivated violent extremist group engaged in hostilities in northwestern Syria. Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham is a successor of Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, also known as Jabhat al-Nusra, which has been listed under the Criminal Code by the government since 2013.

Hurras al-Din, also known as al-Qaeda in Syria, is a Sunni Islamist religiously motivated violent extremist group that was established in Idlib, Syria, in early 2018, as part of al‑Qa’ida’s global network.

All of Hamas will be listed as a terror group. Picture: Said Khatib/AFP

The National Socialist Order, formerly known as Atomwaffen Division, is a nationalist and racist violent extremist group based in the United States. The National Socialist Order has plans and advocates for violence in pursuit of its ideological objectives, to initiate a global “race war” and accelerate the collapse of democratic societies.

Ms Andrews said the listing of National Socialist Order would come into effect immediately, followed by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and Hurras al-Din, and relisting of Abu Sayyaf Group, al‑Qa’ida, al-Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb and Jemaah Islamiah on 9 April 2022.

“I have written to my state and territory counterparts to consult with them on the listing of the entirety of Hamas, and will finalise the listing as soon as possible,” she said.

In November Australia listed white supremacist group The Base and all of Hezbollah a terrorist organisations.

Ms Andrews described The Base as a “violence, racist and neo-Nazi organisation” that had planned terror attacks in several countries.

The decision to list all of Lebanese political party and militant group Hezbollah as a terror organisation was based on the recommendation of a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry.

A Shiite fighter from Hezbollah in the southern suburb of the Lebanese capital Beirut in 2021. Picture: Ibrahim Amro/AFP

Previously Australia had only listed Hezbollah’s External Security Organisation on the terror list.

“There is no place in Australia for their hateful ideologies,” Ms Andrews said.

“We know that there are individuals actively watching what is happening in Australia. There are people here who have the intent and the capability to do us harm.”

Hezbollah, which dominates Lebanon’s security and political institutions, has been accused of terrorist attacks, kidnappings and smuggling weapons and explosives.