Part 2/12:
Caroline Marcus emphasized that Hamas’s positive response to Australia's stance is a severe setback for the government. She criticized Albanese for claiming that recognizing a Palestinian state would somehow oppose Hamas's objectives, pointing out that the group sees the recognition as validation of its actions and ideology. Hamas’s explicit support for recognition by countries like the UK, Canada, and France underscores the group's strategic use of diplomatic gestures to further its cause. Marcus argued that Albanese's rhetoric—particularly his vague references to "from the river to the sea"—demonstrates a disconnect, perhaps even a lack of understanding, of the implications such phrases carry, as they are often associated with extremist ambitions to supersede the state of Israel entirely.