November 23, 2023
1 min read

Australia Grants Over 2,000 Temporary Visas

Of those, 860 were for Palestinians and 1,793 for Israelis, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said at a press conference…reports Asian Lite News

Over 2,000 Palestinians and Israelis have been granted temporary Australian visas since the conflict between Israel and Hamas escalated in October, the government has revealed.

According to data released by the Department of Home Affairs on Wednesday night, more than 2,500 visas were granted to Palestinians and Israelis with connections to Australia between October 7 and November 20.

Of those, 860 were for Palestinians and 1,793 for Israelis, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said at a press conference.

“Obviously there is a lot of demand from those in the region for Australian visas for people who are eligible,” she added.

“These people have been subjected to the same security checks by Australian Border Force and authorities as you would expect any visa applicant would be required.”

According to state media the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the group have been issued with subclass 600 visitors visas that allow them to stay in Australia for between three and 12 months.

Wong described news of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas as an “important and necessary” step but said the ultimate goal remained long-term peace in the region, Xinhua news agency reported.

She also on Wednesday confirmed that another 67 Australian citizens, permanent residents and their family members on Tuesday night left Gaza and entered Egypt via the Rafah border crossing.

It takes to 127 the total number of Australian citizens, permanent residents and family members who the government has helped leave Gaza since October 7.

The group was met by Australian consular staff in Cairo who will organise their repatriation to Australia.

ALSO READ-UK Universities See Surge in Applications

Previous Story

US Warship Thwarts Houthi Drone Attack in Red Sea

Next Story

Gaza Ceasefire Set for Thursday Morning

Latest from -Top News

Porn sites to begin strict age checks

Under the Online Safety Act, age verification and age estimation must be “highly effective” at correctly determining whether a user is under 18 for sites hosting harmful content Major pornography sites including

Miliband shuns £25bn renewable energy project

Whitehall sources say the government will emphasise a desire to focus on “homegrown” energy in a statement explaining its rejection of the Xlinks project The government is snubbing a £25bn renewable energy
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Israel begins building wall in northern West Bank

Israel has begun building a 9-metre-tall wall to replace the

Palestine hit by Arab funding shortage

“The Arab countries and US haven’t sent any financial aid