Victorian Islamic leader criticised over comments casting doubt on death toll from 7 October attack

Adel Salman told ABC radio he denounced the killing of civilians but said people have contested ‘the full explanation of what actually happened on October 7’

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has criticised a senior Victorian Islamic leader over comments made on radio in which he appeared to cast doubt on the official death toll from Hamas’ 7 October attack on Israel and defended what he called a “legitimate act of resistance” by Palestinians to “this status, this occupation”.

The Islamic Council of Victoria’s president, Adel Salman, has since told Guardian Australia that it was not his intention to dispute how many died, but he contested the “full explanation of actually what happened” during the attack.