The recipient of the Australian of the Year award has come under fire for referring to members of the terrorist organization Hamas as “freedom fighters”.

Betul Tuna, who has been an outspoken supporter of Palestine and wore a Palestinian keffiyeh-inspired scarf to accept her “Local Hero” award, shared the disturbing content earlier this week.

In his controversial post, Tuna said that “the colonizers designate a terrorist, historians will declare freedom fighters”.

Tuna described herself as a “change maker, activist, advocate and intersectional feminist” and works for the Victorian government in child protection.

She received her Local Hero award in recognition of her “deep commitment to humanitarian and community issues”.

Her comments about Hamas followed the death of Ismail Haniyeh, the group’s former leader who was assassinated in Iran on July 31.

Tuna’s post was described as “appalling” and “divisive”, but she was featured in an ad promoting the Australian of the Year awards by the National Australia Day Council (NADC) just days later.

The ad was also shared by the Department of Premier and Cabinet urging Victorians to “recognise someone in your community who is helping Victorians”.

However, it is not the first time that the NADC has overlooked Tuna’s support for Palestine, Herald Sun reported.

The activist has shared several anti-Israel posts since the October 7 Hamas massacre and the subsequent war in Gaza, which has caused a humanitarian crisis.

Tuna also recently shared images of a protester wearing a shirt emblazoned with the words “Intifada Revolution” at a demonstration in Melbourne’s CBD.

The phrase calls for a violent rebellion against Israel. Two intifadas in the past led to the deaths of thousands of Palestinians.

Executive Council of Australian Jews co-CEO Alex Ryvchin called on the NADC to focus its awards on “leadership and virtuous behaviour” rather than honoring those who “inflame and divide”.

“Ms Tuna’s comments about terrorism and support for violent insurgencies show that she has swallowed the shallow propaganda of the anti-Israel movement hook, line and sinker,” he said.

“If Tuna is prepared to meet with Jewish Australians, including victims of Palestinian terrorism, to better understand why her words are so frightening and hurtful, we would be happy to facilitate that.”

Responding to criticism of Tuna in light of its latest advert, the NADC said: “The nominations for the Australian of the Year – Local Hero award recognize individuals who have made a significant contribution at a local level.

“Recipients are selected by an independent committee from a list of nominations submitted by the Victorian community.”