Moncrieff independent Waddah Weld Ali described Hamas leader Yahya Al-Sinwar as ‘my leader’ and pledged to ‘continue your path’

A federal election candidate standing in a Gold Coast seat described the man who ordered the October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel as “my leader” and pledged to “continue your path”.

Waddah Weld Ali is running in the federal election as an independent candidate for the seat of Moncrieff. Picture: Nicola McNamara

A federal election candidate described the man who ordered the October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel as “my leader” and pledged to “continue your path”.

Waddah Weld Ali, who is standing as an independent in the Gold Coast seat of Moncrieff, made the comments in a social media post on October 20 last year, days after Israeli forces killed Hamas leader Yahya Al-Sinwar.

Al-Sinwar ordered the terrorist attacks a year earlier in which almost 1200 Israelis were murdered, including women and children sheltering in their homes and young people attending a music festival.

About 250 people were also taken as hostages into Gaza, where approximately 30 are believed to remain.

Despite the barbarity, Mr Weld Ali praised Al-Sinwar as “my leader” and a “leader of humanity”.

Waddah Weld Ali speaking at a protest at Surfers Paradise Esplanade on Saturday March 30, 2024. Picture: Ember Leonard/Supplied

The Southport resident, who has lived in Australia for more than 20 years, has also been pictured attending demonstrations wearing a T-shirt commemorating Al-Sinwar.

He posted a video of himself while wearing the shirt in which he declared: “To resist is not just something that is justifiable, it’s a must”.

Mr Weld Ali also shared a video from a masked man in military fatigues speaking in Arabic about worldwide demonstrations, “the desire to fight with us” and “requests to join and enlist”.

As recently as April 6, Mr Weld Ali, who has taken part in demonstrations in Surfers Paradise and at council chambers, wrote: “We should not wait anymore. Whole world should declare war against terrorist Israel and terrorist American administration.”

An October 20, 2024 Facebook post from Waddah Weld Ali in which he described late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as "my leader" and wrote: "We will continue your path".

An Instagram post shared by Waddah Weld-Ali on April 5 featuring Abu Obaida, who is spokesperson for the Ezzedeen al-Qassam Brigades – the military wing of Hamas.

On April 5 Mr Weld Ali shared an Instagram post featuring Abu Obaida, who is spokesperson for the Ezzedeen al-Qassam Brigades – the military wing of Hamas. Text on the post attributed to Obaida included comments regarding the safety of remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza.

This masthead sent a list of questions to Mr Weld Ali regarding his social media posts.

A solicitor from Sydney law firm Birchgrove Legal replied on his behalf, accusing this masthead of “trying to maliciously mislead” readers into “believing that Waddah has done something illegal” in:

* “Expressing grief for the loss of someone who stood against Israel’s occupation and apartheid (in relation to the October 2024 post regarding terrorist leader Al-Sinwar).

* “Insisting that protest in Australia is justifiable” (in relation to comments made about “resisting” while wearing a T-shirt featuring Al-Sinwar).

* “Simply resharing a post from Al Jazeera News” (in relation to the post featuring Ezzedeen al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Obaida).

“Waddah is a human rights advocate who strongly opposes all war crimes and the need for an independent investigation into them,” solicitor Rita Jabri Markwell wrote.

“He also advocates for everyone left behind and ignored by the major parties in Australia”.

Image from a video of Waddah Weld-Ali at a protest wearing a t-shirt commemorating Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

Mr Weld Ali, a civil engineer who has lived on the Gold Coast for five years, has highlighted “empowering First Nations”, “sustainable transport infrastructure”, affordable housing and “comprehensive climate action” as key concerns in his campaign.

He recently visited an encampment of homeless people in Southport, where he condemned council threats to evict them.

In June last year he was handed a six-month good behaviour bond with a $500 recognisance after pleading guilty to engaging in an unregulated high-risk activity. The charge came after he climbed a building during a pro-Palestine protest at the University of Queensland.

Waddah Weld Ali is detained by police at the University of Queensland St. Lucia campus during a protest on May 20, 2024. Picture: Liam Kidston

Asked about Mr Weld Ali’s comments on social media, incumbent Moncrieff MP Angie Bell said “pro-Hamas extremism” had no place in Australia and “needs to be stamped out”.

“Anthony Albanese’s weak leadership has enabled (this) to spiral out of control in our country,” she said.

Also running for Moncrieff is independent Nicole Arrowsmith, Labor’s Blair Stuart, Sally Spain for the Greens, One Nation’s Glen Wadsworth, Ruth Fea for the Family First Party Australia, Vic Naicker for Trumpet of Patriots, and Natasha Anne Szorkovsky for Gerrad Rennick People First.

The federal election takes place on Saturday May 3.

Follow @keithjwoods

Originally published as Moncrieff independent Waddah Weld Ali described Hamas leader Yahya Al-Sinwar as ‘my leader’ and pledged to ‘continue your path’