Australia’s Muslim leaders must reject Hamas’s terror and recognise Israel’s right to defend itself

Australia’s Muslim leaders must reject Hamas’s terror and recognise Israel’s right to defend itself

Family First welcomes the deal to release some hostages in return for a ceasefire.

But sadly we also recognise that almost 100 hostages will remain prisoners of evil terrorists and that the Nazi-like Hamas remains in control of Gaza.

There can be no real peace while this is the case but freeing some children, women and men is welcome relief in this wicked Hamas-created dilemma.

Relief for Hamas’s human shields in Gaza is also welcome but their suffering is needless thanks to the cowardly terrorists who exploit them and those in the West who point the figure at Israel.

The response of Australia’s large Muslim population, whose leaders seem firmly on the side of Hamas, is of deep concern for Australia’s social cohesion.

Muslim leaders, the radical left and Labor and the Greens have consistently demonised Israel as if it was the cause of the war.

The ceasefire has been cautiously welcomed by Australia’s Muslim leaders, but their statements reflect a troubling moral equivalence between Israel and Hamas which must be called out.

This false narrative ignores the root cause of the conflict: Hamas’ Islamist-inspired terrorism and strategic objective to kill Jews “from the river to the sea”.

Hamas began this war on October 7 with an atrocity that shocked the world.

In a pre-planned act of horror, innocent civilians were murdered, women were raped, and women, children and men were kidnapped.

These crimes are indefensible, yet Australia’s Muslim leaders have focused their criticisms on solely on Israel’s response rather than condemning Hamas’s barbarism.

This failure to assign blame where it belongs—with Hamas—undermines the possibility of real peace in Gaza and a resolution to the anti-Semitism crisis in Australia.

Hamas Is the Cause of Gaza’s Suffering

Let’s be clear: Gaza’s suffering is the direct result of Hamas’ actions.

If Hamas were to release the hostages, surrender its remaining terrorist battalions, apologise unreservedly for the October 7 atrocity, and renounce its genocidal goal of wiping Israel off the map, the suffering in Gaza would end. Tomorrow.

Instead, as recently as yesterday Hamas was continuing to fire rockets at innocent civilians in Israel.

Hamas prioritises its concrete-reinforced terror tunnels and building a terrorist army to destroy Israel over the welfare of its own people.

Under this deal it will get 1000 or so criminals and terrorists, hundreds of whom are killers, returned from Israeli jails.

Undoubtedly they will replenish Hamas’s degraded military capability – although under the deal they are supposed to be required to live abroad.

Liberal backbencher Julian Leeser has rightly called on the Prime Minister to reject any from living in Australia.

Family First echoes this call.

Even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, whose weakness and anti-Israel policies fuelled the anti-Semitism crisis, has acknowledged that “there can be no peace in Gaza while Hamas remains in charge.”

Australia’s Muslim leaders who want reparations for Gaza need to acknowledge this.

Gaza’s people deserve leaders who focus on their welfare, not leaders who exploit them as human shields in a relentless campaign of terror against Israel.

Generous welfare for the rebuild of Gaza will surely come, and Family First would even support Australia making a contribution, once Hamas is destroyed and Islamist ambitions for terror and destroying Israel are purged from the strip.

A Shameful Lack of Accountability

Statements from Muslim leaders, such as those by the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) and the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC), highlight the devastation in Gaza but fail to hold Hamas accountable.

Bilal Rauf, ANIC’s senior adviser, described Gaza as a “wasteland” and called for “reparations,” but made no mention of Hamas’ role in creating this devastation.

Similarly, AFIC president Rateb Jneid demanded an “international investigation” into Israel’s military actions while remaining silent on Hamas’ atrocities.

An investigation into what was being taught in the mosques of Gaza for the past 20 years would be a more appropriate course of post-war inquiry.

Hamas’ Terrorism Cannot Be Ignored

The lack of condemnation for Hamas’ actions is deeply concerning.

Where is the outrage over the rapes, murders, and kidnappings?

Why aren’t journalists pressing Muslim leaders for their views on Hamas’ atrocities?

Instead, the narrative focuses solely on Israel’s response, painting the victim of terrorism as the aggressor.

The reality is that Israel has not occupied Gaza since 2005. Hamas has had nearly two decades to build a prosperous society but has chosen instead to use its resources, including aid provided by Australian taxpayers, to wage war.

Blaming Israel for the suffering in Gaza ignores these facts and absolves Hamas of its responsibility.

A Threat to Australia’s Social Cohesion

This refusal to acknowledge Hamas’ culpability is not just a problem for the Middle East; it threatens Australia’s social cohesion.

By perpetuating a false narrative, some Muslim community leaders risk sowing division and undermining shared values of justice and accountability.

Australia’s Muslim leaders should join the broader community in unequivocally condemning Hamas and recognising Israel’s right to defend itself.

Only then can we have honest conversations about achieving peace in the region.

Conclusion

It is a tragedy that Gaza’s people continue to suffer, but their plight will not improve as long as Hamas remains in power.

Real peace requires the removal of Hamas and its hateful ideology.

Australia’s Muslim leaders must stop excusing Hamas and start demanding accountability.

Imagine if Australia’s Muslim leaders called for the elimination of Hamas, the disavowal of Islamist terror and the security of Israel.

That’s a vision that surely any religion of peace should promote. It’s a vision we could all get behind.

As the Family First Party, we call for moral clarity. The suffering in Gaza is the responsibility of Hamas, not Israel.

The world—and Australia’s Muslim leaders—must recognise this reality to pave the way for genuine peace.

As even Anthony Albanese stated this week, “Hamas is the enemy of the Palestinian people, not just the enemy of the state of Israel.”

We will all rejoice when some of the hostages are released.

The reality is there will be no peace until all are free, Hamas is destroyed, Islamism is renounced and Israel’s right to exist recognised.

Social cohesion in Australia remains under threat while ever our Muslim leaders are not clear about this.