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Israel revokes visas of Australian diplomats to Palestine

Iran Press TV

Monday, 18 August 2025 7:10 PM

Israel has revoked the residency visas of Australia's representatives to Palestine after Canberra barred the entry of the regime's far-right figures and announced its intention to recognize Palestinian statehood.

In an X post on Monday, Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar said he had notified Australia's ambassador to Israel of the visa revocations and instructed Tel Aviv's embassy in Canberra to "carefully examine" any Australian visa request for the occupied territories.

He said the move follows Australia's decisions to recognize a Palestinian state and cancel visas to a number of Israeli figures, including lawmaker Simcha Rotman and former minister Ayelet Shaked.

Sa'ar also claimed that the Australian government is fueling anti-Semitism.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates strongly condemned Israel's "arbitrary measure" to revoke the visas of Australian diplomats to Palestine.

The "illegal" Israeli decision displays "Israeli arrogance and a state of political imbalance," and is "inconsistent with the Geneva Conventions, international law, and international legitimacy resolutions," it added.

"Palestine does not recognize this decision and regards Australian diplomats as representatives and accredited to the State of Palestine."

The ministry also said Israeli policies will only strengthen Australia's and other countries' determination to adhere to international law and the so-called two-state solution.

Earlier on Monday, Australia's Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the visa application of Rothman had been cancelled, noting that Canberra "takes a hard line" on people who seek to come to the country and spread division.

Rothman is a member of Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich's racist Religious Zionism party. Smotrich was sanctioned by Australia in June alongside Israel's security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for having "incited extremist violence" against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Last year, Australia refused to grant a visa to Shaked for a speaking tour.

Burke said Shaked's visit would have undermined social cohesion as she had publicly expressed "horrific" views about Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, including referring to Palestinian children as "snakes".

Israel has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured at least 156,230 others since October 7, 2023, when it unleashed a genocidal war on Gaza.