Fatima Payman refuses to call Hamas attacks an act of terrorism

Labor-turned-independent senator Fatima Payman has refused to call Hamas’ October 7 assault on Israel an act of terrorism.

Speaking to ABC’s 7.30 program, the Senator was asked if the attack was an act of terrorism or resistance.

She refused to answer, saying that the question “not only ignores the 75, 76 years but also reduces the Palestinian plight.”

“What happened on the 7th of October, I’ve condemned and the atrocities … the loss of any human life is to be condemned,” she said.

“Any form of violence against civilians must be condemned, and we need to acknowledge that Palestinians and now the Lebanese community are hurting, but so are the Israeli communities.

“And this is about: how do we make sure that we are raising awareness, but at the same time not isolating one group and pitting one group against another?”

She also questioned if Israel had a right to defend itself against Hamas, saying that its status as an occupying power cast doubt.

“We’ve heard from the ICJ (International Court of Justice) and the ICC (International Criminal Court) that as an occupying power, occupying a people, Israel does not have the right to claim self-defence,” she said.

“Again, I’m not a humanitarian lawyer or expert, but from what I have seen and understood Israel’s atrocities and the genocide it continues to impose on the people of Palestine and now crossing the borders needs to be called out and Australia, as a friend of Israel, should play a stronger and bolder role.”

The interview came hours after Ms Payman announced she would form her own party, Australia’s Voice, ahead of the next Federal Election, following her tumultuous split from the Labor Party earlier this year.

The first-term senator sensationally defected from the party in July after she crossed the floor while supporting a Greens motion recognising the state of Palestine.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Senator Payman said Australia’s Voice would challenge the two major parties, which she said had a “duopoly” in politics.

“It’s a party based on what Australians want and what I’ve been hearing from Australians,” she said.

“They are fed up of the major parties, the two major parties, playing politics, and being afraid of making any form of progressive reform when it comes to bills that will ease the pressures on Australians.”

Speaking to media, she quoted former prime ministers Gough Whitlam and Robert Menzies and hit out at Labor for losing its way.

Quoting Mr Whitlam, she said: “There are some people who are so frightened to put a foot forward, to put a foot wrong, that they won’t put a foot forward.

“This comment was made in 1985 and implies so much the current Labor Party who has lost its way.”

Asked how Australia’s Voice would differentiate itself from the Greens, Senator Payman said while she admired the minor party’s “passion,” she’d heard from constituents that the party went “too far”.

“When it comes to practicality or pragmatism, there needs to be that level of engagement with what’s possible and what can be achieved,” she said.

More to come.