Fatma Almassri, a 68-year-old Palestinian woman with diabetes and high blood pressure, has had her Australian visitor visa cancelled on national security grounds. The Department of Home Affairs cited an assessment by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation that she poses a direct or indirect risk to security. Almassri, whose 27 children and grandchildren live in Australia, was granted the visa in November but received a cancellation notice last week without warning.
Her son, Mohammed Almassri, an Australian citizen living in Sydney, expressed shock and confusion. He said his mother lives alone in a displaced persons' camp in Rafah after her home in Khan Younis was destroyed. The family had previously fled to a tent in Rafah. Mohammed paid a broker US$5,300 to escort her across the border to Egypt, but she has not yet received assistance.
Advocates say Almassri is one of several Gazan residents whose visas have been cancelled for the same reason, including an elderly man. Rasha Abbas of Palestine Australia Relief and Action called for transparency, noting that individuals deemed security risks cannot further inquire about their cases. Nasser Mashni of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network questioned what risk an elderly, ill woman could pose.
The Department of Home Affairs declined to comment on the specific case, citing privacy. The cancellation notice allows individuals to provide reasons why their visa should not have been cancelled, but the government cannot legally revoke the cancellation. In March, several valid visa holders had their visas revoked while en route from Gaza, though many were reinstated.
