Australia freezes Hamas assets

The Australian government froze the assets of 6 leaders of the Islamic Resistance movements (Hamas ) including the founder of the movement Sheikh Ahmad Yassin.

The Australian government also took similar measures against four societies, alleged to have provided support to Hamas.

The Australian Foreign minister Alexander Downer said that this measure to freeze properties of Hamas leaders ensures that Australia honors is in compliance with the UN Security Council in the field of fighting sources of finance for what he called terrorism.

He explained that the 6 Hamas leaders who are governed by the decision are Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, Imad Khalil al-Alamai, Osama Hamdan, Khaled Mashaal, Mousa Abu Marzouk and Abdul Aziz al-Ranteisi.

The charity societies governed by the decision are the Palestinian fund for development support, al-Sanabel society for relief and development, and al-Berr and al-Ighatha committee for the Palestinians, and the Palestinian relief society.

The Australian minister explained that donation in cash or properties to these organizations or to Hamas leaders would lead to five year imprisonment penalty.

This decision, however, comes after weeks when the Australian parliament adopted a decision banning any representation for the military wing of Hamas on the Australian territories.

In August, the US president George W. Bush announced freezing of the assets of six of Hamas leaders in the USA in addition to the accounts of five societies supporting the Palestinian movement.