Hamas blasts Israel’s observer status at African Union as ‘shocking, reprehensible’ Sunday, 25 July 2021 5:52 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 25 July 2021 7:00 AM ] Delegates attend the opening session of the 33rd African Union (AU) Summit at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 9, 2020. (Photo by AP) Hamas has strongly condemned the decision to grant the Israeli regime observer status at the African Union (AU), describing the move as “shocking and reprehensible.” “The decision would legitimize the presence of the occupying Israeli regime on our lands, and would give it more chances to press ahead with its plans to deny Palestinians their rights, and to continue its brutal crimes against them,” the movement said in a statement on Saturday.