28 August 2026
The Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ) has called on the Australian Government to immediately strengthen screening of Israeli nationals who have served in the Israeli military or other Israeli security bodies and who are seeking to enter Australia.
The call follows reports that at least 39 Israeli nationals are in Australia to participate in the Sydney Marathon event on Sunday 30 August 2026, including individuals who have reportedly served in Gaza, the West Bank or Lebanon.
In correspondence to the Minister for Home Affairs, ACIJ says Australian authorities should establish the nature of any relevant military service and where credible information raises possible involvement in torture, war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide, the matter should be referred to the Australian Federal Police and entry should be refused or deferred pending assessment.
Findings by the United Nations and international organisations have concluded that Israeli authorities and security forces have committed torture, war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in the unlawfully Occupied Palestinian Territory, and war crimes and crimes against humanity in Lebanon.
ACIJ says the charitable purpose of the Sydney visit — fundraising for an Israeli organisation supporting people with disabilities — should not displace proper scrutiny of reported military service. There is a stark contradiction in permitting individuals who participated in Israeli military operations in Gaza to enter Australia to raise funds for a disability organisation without examining the nature of that participation.
Rawan Arraf, Executive Director at the Australian Centre for International Justice said:
“The scale of permanent physical disability caused by Israel’s ruthless genocidal campaign makes the stated purpose of this visit infuriating given that Israel has made Gaza a place which hosts the largest group of child amputees in modern history. It has further caused life changing injuries to thousands of people who are without access to prosthetics or rehabilitation services.
“The Australian Government’s negligent attitude to date of ignoring the risks associated with permitting entry to Israeli nationals without proper scrutiny of their conduct in Israel’s military operations, constitutes a failure by Australia to discharge its obligations under international law.
‘We are alarmed by the Government’s negligent approach towards its international legal obligations and the failure to recognise the national security risk for Australia arising from this inaction against credible allegations of crimes, as well as the risk of undermining ‘social cohesion’ by stoking fear and division in the Australian community.”
ACIJ is calling on the Australian Government to take two urgent steps:
- Introduce mandatory enhanced screening for Israeli nationals who served in the IDF, COGAT or other relevant military, security or administrative bodies, including disclosure of their unit, rank, responsibilities and deployments in Gaza, the West Bank or Lebanon.
- Refer credible cases for investigation, including to the Australian Federal Police, where information suggests possible participation in, facilitation of, support for or knowledge of conduct constituting torture, war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide, with entry refused or deferred pending assessment.
ACIJ is also seeking clarification from the Minister for Home Affairs about what screening presently applies to Israeli visa applicants with military service and what steps are taken where possible involvement in serious international crimes is identified.
ENDS
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