ABC INTV News INLTV.co.uk
INLTV.co.uk ABCNews Australia - Hani thought he'd escaped the horrors of Gaza.
Hani thought he'd escaped the horrors of Gaza. Then his Australian visa was suddenly cancelled
By political reporters Chantelle Al-Khouri and Georgia Roberts
Click Here for INL News Amazon Best Seller Books

ABC INTV News INLTV.co.uk
INLTV.co.uk ABCNews Australia - Hani thought he'd escaped the horrors of Gaza.
Hani thought he'd escaped the horrors of Gaza. Then his Australian visa was suddenly cancelled
By political reporters Chantelle Al-Khouri and Georgia Roberts
Click Here for INL News Amazon Best Seller Books

The 40 year INL News Secret Investigation Report into the real undisclosed background and reasons for Mark Chapman murdering John Lennon and who else was involved in John Lennon's murder will be revealed in aSpecial Collectors Edition of INL World News which will be provided to INL Weekend News Subscribers.
Anyone interested in subscribing to the INL Weekend News please email:
Managing Editor
INL Weekend News
INLWorldNews@inltv.co.uk
Number of Palestinians have temporary Australian visas suddenly cancelled.
Posted Thu 14 Mar 2024
Finally escaping the horrors of the Gaza Strip and holding onto hope for some reprieve, Hani has found himself trapped in visa limbo.
"I left Gaza and decided to get out of the war and the bombing, and when I got my [tourist] visa to Australia, I kind of felt I was going to a better and safer place," Hani said.
But when the 23-year-old arrived at Istanbul airport on the way to Australia, he was informed his visa was cancelled.
"I was on the correct path. I didn't do anything wrong," Hani said.
"Maybe it's like a political thing. I don't know what is the problem."
Hani's family only found out when they tried to book him a flight to Cairo and he was told he couldn't leave.
"They told me I don't have a visa to Cairo, and I don't have a visa to enter Turkey even, and I'm currently stuck and afraid and don't know what to do.
"I'm going to be stuck at the airport right now. I don't have my luggage at all. I don't have another T-shirt [or] trousers. If I am lucky, I will buy with the rest of the money another food and clothes."
Hani's aunt Hanna, who has only recently left Gaza herself for Australia, has been desperately looking for ways to get her family out.
She said she's scared for her nephew, who is all alone, and the others he was fleeing with.
"I am very concerned about my nephew, I'm so worried and scared. Neither of us nor his family know what to do. The situation is very serious and dangerous to all of them," she said.
"He called me and told me he didn't know what to do. His family was left in Egypt, his mother has a blood clot in her leg. They have with them an elderly woman of 91 years old with a critical health condition."
Hani isn't the only one caught out midair. A number of Palestinians have been left stranded after their temporary Australian visas were suddenly cancelled.
The government has granted more than 2,200 temporary visas for Palestinians, and 2,400 for Israelis since October.
The ABC understands most of the visas given to Palestinians and Israelis since October 7 are subclass 600 visas, in the sponsored family stream, allowing whoever applies to stay in Australia for up to 12 months if they have a family sponsor.
On that temporary visa, you cannot work, or access education or healthcare — you are essentially a tourist, which is what people usually apply for subclass 600 visas for.
These particular visas are granted with the hope that those who have applied will be able to return to their home country, with character requirements in place for those applying.
In cancellation letters — obtained by the ABC — some Palestinians have been told they never intended a genuine temporary stay in Australia.
And it's left many in the community distressed, confused and looking for answers.
'No mans land'
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the situation was a "very difficult circumstance" for families.
"The government makes these decisions," he said.
"These decisions are made from advice based upon the individuals."
One woman, who chose to remain anonymous for her safety, had her visa approved in November but it was cancelled before she could fly, leaving her stranded with her children in a foreign airport.
Rasha Abbas, the co-founder of the Palestine Australia Relief and Action (PARA) Foundation, says people who are currently stranded in Egypt, like Hani, have a short window of being in the country legally.
"They can't go back to Gaza," she said.
"They have no access to services, no access to support, no access to anything in Egypt, because they're there temporarily.
"They're in no man's land."
'What changed?'
A spokesperson for Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil says the government would not comment on individual cases but that the government could cancel any visa if circumstances change.
"The Australian government recognises that this is an incredibly distressing time for Australians with extended family members in Gaza," the statement said.
"All visa applicants undergo security checks and are subject to ongoing security assessments. The Australian government reserves the right to cancel any issued visas if circumstances change."
Ms Abbas wonders what had changed since the visas were granted months ago.
"The war was there when those visas were issued … issued back in November or December," he said.
"So, what changed?"
On that temporary visa, you cannot work, or access education or healthcare — you are essentially a tourist, which is what people usually apply for subclass 600 visas for.
These particular visas are granted with the hope that those who have applied will be able to return to their home country, with character requirements in place for those applying.
In cancellation letters — obtained by the ABC — some Palestinians have been told they never intended a genuine temporary stay in Australia.
And it's left many in the community distressed, confused and looking for answers.
'No mans land'
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the situation was a "very difficult circumstance" for families.
"The government makes these decisions," he said.
"These decisions are made from advice based upon the individuals."
One woman, who chose to remain anonymous for her safety, had her visa approved in November but it was cancelled before she could fly, leaving her stranded with her children in a foreign airport.
Rasha Abbas, the co-founder of the Palestine Australia Relief and Action (PARA) Foundation, says people who are currently stranded in Egypt, like Hani, have a short window of being in the country legally.
"They can't go back to Gaza," she said.
"They have no access to services, no access to support, no access to anything in Egypt, because they're there temporarily.
"They're in no man's land."
'What changed?'
A spokesperson for Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil says the government would not comment on individual cases but that the government could cancel any visa if circumstances change.
"The Australian government recognises that this is an incredibly distressing time for Australians with extended family members in Gaza," the statement said.
"All visa applicants undergo security checks and are subject to ongoing security assessments. The Australian government reserves the right to cancel any issued visas if circumstances change."
Ms Abbas wonders what had changed since the visas were granted months ago.
"The war was there when those visas were issued … issued back in November or December," he said.
"So, what changed?"
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-15/visa-cancellations-impacting-palestinians-travelling-from-gaza/103587308
- In short: The ABC understands Home Affairs has reversed its decision in some instances when it cancelled visas previously granted to Palestinians.
- Most of the visas are temporary visas with character requirements, granted on the basis the holder will eventually return home.
- What's next? Many Palestinians are still seeking a way out of Gaza, as Israel's government gears up for an attack on the city of Rafah.
The federal government has reversed the cancellation of Australian visas for some Palestinians fleeing Gaza.
Some Palestinians have been left stranded after finding out their temporary Australian visas had been suddenly cancelled.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-23/australian-visas-to-people-in-war-zones/103140928
Has Australia always given visas to people in war zones?
Australia's decision to grant visas for Palestinians has prompted a round of political bickering surrounding the processes that were followed.

Read more
Related Stories
Government grants hundreds of temporary visas to Palestinians

Several Palestinians left stranded and distressed after Australian visas suddenly cancelled

Sheltering in a room with her family in Gaza, Jumana is desperate to make it to Australia before the invasion

- More on:
- ARMED CONFLICT
- AUSTRALIA
- FOREIGN AFFAIRS
- IMMIGRATION
- IMMIGRATION POLICY
- PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
- REFUGEES
- WORLD POLITICS
- Popular Now
- Don't miss news that matters to you. Log in to ABC today to get a more personalised experience tailored to your preferences.
- GET STARTED1.
- CCTV caught Brad's final moments before he was shot after being stopped for wearing a hoodie
2.
- Foreign Minister Penny Wong weds partner in 'special day' in Adelaide
3.
- How does my super compare to others? Here's a breakdown of average super balances by age
4.
- One dead, two in hospital after being pulled from water near Apollo Bay in Victoria's south west
5.
- Olympic review urges scrapping Gabba rebuild for a more costly Victoria Park stadium
6.

Top Stories
CCTV caught Brad's final moments before he was shot after being stopped for wearing a hoodie

One dead, two in hospital after being pulled from water near Apollo Bay in Victoria's south west
Warnings for Boroloola residents as Tropical Cyclone Megan intensifies to category 3, moves towards NT coast
- LIVEFreo youngster KO'd in scary collision as Dockers flip the script on Lions
- NRL wrap: Dolphins run wild in record win as Dragons come crashing back to earth, Sea Eagles outpoint Roosters
Just In
More Just InBack to top
Footer
ABC News homepageMore From ABC NEWS
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.
SECTIONS
NEWS IN LANGUAGE