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Foreign ministers

Israel Revokes Visas of Australian Representatives to Palestinian Authority in Retaliation for Cancelled Israeli Lawmaker's Visa

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Israel's decision to revoke the visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority on August 18, 2025, is a direct response to Australia's cancellation of the visa of Israeli lawmaker Simcha Rothman, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition. The move is the latest in a series of international sanctions against Israeli officials over the ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip, which has left 61,944 people dead and much of the enclave in ruins since October 2023. The cancellation of Rothman's visa was attributed to his "message of hate and division" by Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, who stated that Australia will be a country where everyone can be safe and feel safe.

Key Takeaways:

  • Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced the revocation of Australian representatives' visas on social media platform X, citing Australia's earlier decision to cancel Simcha Rothman's visa.
  • The decision was in response to Rothman's spreading of "a message of hate and division" in Australia, according to Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.
  • Simcha Rothman's visa was cancelled a day before he was due to travel to Australia as a guest of the Australian Jewish Association to meet members of the Jewish community.
  • The measure is the latest international sanction against Israeli officials over the ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip.
  • Australian leaders, including Tony Burke and former Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, have been critical of Israeli actions in the region.
  • The series of sanctions began in June, when Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway imposed sanctions on far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for inciting extremist violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
  • The Canadian and Norwegian governments, as highlighted in an interview with Ramzy Ezzeldine, director of ECRI, the Canadian government agency responsible for promoting and monitoring the fight against racism and racial discrimination, maintain their Representative Offices in Ramallah, following Australia's example.
  • Israel has not recognized Palestine as a sovereign state and has only a Representative Office in Canberra, Australia.

Statistics:

  • At least 61,944 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the ongoing offensive began in October 2023.
  • The ongoing offensive has created a state of famine in the Gaza Strip and left much of the enclave in ruins.

Sources:

  • XINHUA NEWS AGENCY, August 18, 2025.
  • Interview with Ramzy Ezzeldine, director of ECRI, by various news organizations, following Australia's example in maintaining a Representative Office in Ramallah.

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