Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has intensified his criticism of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, accusing him of showing “weakness” towards Hamas and claiming his legacy is permanently damaged by Australia’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state.

In an interview with Sky News Australia set to air on Thursday, Netanyahu said Albanese’s record would “forever be tarnished.”

“When the worst terrorist organisation on earth … congratulates the Prime Minister of Australia, you know something is wrong,” Netanyahu said, referencing a report that quoted Hamas cofounder Sheikh Hassan Yousef as praising Albanese.

However, Hamas denied the statement, noting that Yousef has been in Israeli custody for nearly two years and could not issue public comments.

Earlier this week, Netanyahu described Albanese as a “weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews.”

On Wednesday, Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke rebuked Netanyahu, saying strength was “not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many children you can leave hungry.” Albanese himself attempted to de-escalate, stating he did not take the remarks personally.

Relations between Israel and Australia — once close allies — have sunk to a historic low since Canberra’s recognition of Palestine.

On Monday, Australia revoked a visa for Simcha Rothman, a far-right member of Netanyahu’s coalition, citing concerns his planned speaking tour would “spread division.”

In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced he had cancelled visas for Australian diplomats to the Palestinian Authority.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry urged both leaders to resolve the tensions through diplomacy rather than “public posturing.”

“The sum total of human wisdom would not have been diminished in the slightest if none of these public comments had been made,” the group said.

The rift comes as Israel faces growing global criticism over the humanitarian toll of its war in Gaza.

According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, more than 62,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its offensive following the October 7, 2023 attacks.

Israeli officials say Hamas killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages during its incursion into southern Israel.