Comedian Nazeem Hussain launches extraordinary attack on Anthony Albanese over Israel-Hamas conflict

Australian comedian Nazeem Hussain has lashed out at Anthony Albanese

Mr Hussain, 38, spoke at Melbourne’s State Library on Sunday afternoon during the third consecutive week of nationwide Free Palestine protests.

‘I never imagined that Albo would defend war crimes all under the guise of defending Israel’s right to defend itself,’ Hussain told the crowd of thousands. 

Mr Albanese co-founded the Parliamentary Friends of Palestine Committee while he was deputy prime minister in 2013, and also attended a Free Palestine protest in Sydney decades ago.

But following the Hamas-led terror attack on Israel that killed 1,400, Mr Albanese pledged his support for Israel,  and acknowledged the country’s right to defend itself.

‘People who try to draw a parallel or argue equivalence between Israeli activity in their retaliation for the strikes and the barbaric attacks that we’ve seen by Hamas – there is no comparison,’ he told Sky News. 

The prime minister has ardently stood with Israel since war broke out against the Jewish state and Hamas on October 7

But Mr Hussain said the Prime Minister supported Israel killing helpless Palestinians who were ‘getting murdered in the dark’.

‘When Anthony Albanese became prime minister, I’ll admit I was a little bit excited; I’ll tell you why,’ Hussain said as the crowd booed the mention of Mr Albanese’s election victory.

‘Number one: Well, he’s not Peter Dutton, so I was happy a potato didn’t become prime minister.

‘Number two: He promised justice for First Nation people.

‘And number three, importantly: He co-founded the Parliamentary Friends of Palestine Committee.

‘I never imagined that that same man who campaigned for the Voice to elevate First Nations people and Indigenous Australians would a week later endorse and justify the brutal murder of Indigenous Palestinians.

‘I genuinely believed Anthony Albanese was someone who stands up to the bully, not stands alongside them. Did he forget who he is?’

In the nine-minute speech, Hussain launched a bombardment of attacks against Mr Albanese, Peter Dutton and other world leaders who have supported Israel.

Since the war broke out on October 7, after Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and slaughtered attendees at a music festival before taking hundreds of hostages, many world leaders firmly supported Israel’s right to defend itself.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately declared war on Hamas, and the ensuing conflict has seen hundreds die each day in the three weeks since.

Hussain called out Israel’s tactics in the war, which have included airstrikes, and cutting off food, water and electricity for the people residing in Gaza – calling them war crimes. 

He also slammed opposition leader Peter Dutton for suggesting that anyone taking part in Free Palestine rallies who is living in Australia on a visa should be deported.

Hussain offered an alternative idea. 

‘Peter Dutton telling us to go back to where we came from, why don’t you go back to where you came from? Go back to your dad’s balls you d***head,’ he said.

Mr Albanese had previously supported the Free Palestine movement, having launched the Parliamentary Friends of Palestine Committee while he was deputy prime minister in 2013 and attending a protest in Sydney decades ago (pictured)

Since the war broke out Mr Albanese has been quick to backflip on that support however, and has stood by Israel who he says has a right to defend themselves 

Hussain also called out world leaders including Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak and Emmanuel Macron, who have all stood ardently with Israel. 

‘They know which side they’re on, but we know which side we’re on too.’

He drew parallels between the current war and the Iraq war which was launched in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks more than 20 years ago. 

Hussain claimed that governments around the world lied about weapons of mass destruction being stockpiled in the country, and that governments were lying again about the situation in Palestine.

Hussain thanked Jewish people who showed up to Sunday’s rally, who he said ‘have paid a very, very heavy personal price for their solidarity with Palestinians’.

The comedian, who   has made multiple appearances on TV, including in the 2017 season of ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’ and as a guest on ‘The Project,’ said he expected to be cancelled for his views.

‘We will all be demonised for not recognising Israel’s right to defend itself,’ he said. 

‘But again, lies. We know who we are as much as they try to mischaracterise us, we know who we are. 

‘We all know that Gaza will rise again, we all know that Palestine will rise again and that Palestinians continue in their struggle for justice.’

Hussain, who had previously appeared on popular tv shows like The Project and I’m a Celebrity, said that he would likely be cancelled for his speech 

Thousands of Palestinian sympathisers have shown up in cities across Australia every Sunday since the war began