In an unexpected move, Australia has cancelled visas previously issued to 2,000 Gazans, leaving them in distress and unable to escape the war zone. The move has prompted criticism amongst advocates, seeking explanations for such an unprecedented U-turn on the Australian government’s side.
According to cancellation letters sent to some of the Palestinian refugees, the government now has put into doubt their intention for a genuine temporary stay in Australia, VisaGuide.World reports.
Between October 7 and February 6 this year, the Australian government issued a total of 2,273 temporary visas (subclass 600) to individuals with Palestinian connections to enter Australia.
In addition, during the same period, the Department of Internal Affairs issued 2,415 visitor visas to individuals claiming Israeli citizenship, SchengenVisaInfo reports.
The recipients of these visas were restricted from working, accessing education, or receiving health care in Australia.
They were issued a tourist visa to allow them to come and be with their families, and the Government encouraged the families here to use this visa clause.
It comes amid the ongoing conflict, with more than 31,100 Palestinians said to have been killed since Israel began airstrikes in the besieged territory following a Hamas attack on October 7, resulting in an estimated 1,139 casualties.
Advocate Press for Clarifications of Visa Cancellations
Advocates are pressing the federal Government for clarification regarding the cancellation of multiple visas for individuals trying to leave Gaza. In this regard, SBS News has learned some cases where government-issued visitor visas were cancelled en route to Australia. In one case, a woman received a visa cancellation notice just as she was preparing to board a flight to Australia.
On March 13, the Australian family of two Palestinians who had their visas revoked while trying to flee Gaza demanded answers from the Federal Government about the sudden cancellations.
SBS News has now been aware of seven more cases where visitor visas issued by the Australian Government have been withdrawn recently.
The Federal Government is facing mounting pressure to explain the sudden cancellation of visas granted to Palestinians seeking refuge from the conflict in Gaza. Reports indicate that those affected have received correspondence from Home Affairs suggesting that they may intend to extend their stay in Australia beyond their one-year visa.
Urgent Response Needed for Injured in Palestine Amid Airstrike Tragedy
Palestine Aid and Action Group Australia has identified at least nine cases of such visa cancellations, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the situation and providing affected individuals with transparent explanations.
Moreover, an Israeli airstrike on a UNRWA aid warehouse located in the southern Gaza city of Rafah resulted in the tragic loss of at least one UNRWA staff member, with 22 others injured.
Israel has admitted carrying out the attack, saying it was a “precisely targeted” operation aimed at eliminating a Hamas commander. However, Palestinian health officials have hit back, stating that the strike claimed the lives of four other individuals.