Australia must give permanent protection to Palestinians who have fled genocide.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels. More than 52,000 people have been killed, nearly a third of which are children. Entire neighbourhoods have been flattened, hospitals bombed, and 1.9 million people (more than 85% of Gaza’s population) forcibly displaced. Humanitarian aid is being blocked and starvation used as a weapon of war.
Amnesty International’s research has found credible evidence that Israel’s actions constitute genocide in Gaza.
The only help Australia has made available for Palestinians seeking to flee Gaza is visitor visas, designed for tourism, family and leisure visits. Almost 70% of applicants for these visas – over 7,600 people – have been refused. Only around 3,800 Palestinians have been granted a visitor visa, and only roughly 1,200 of those have been able to get to Australia.
Since late 2024, the Government began issuing three-year temporary humanitarian visas to Palestinians who have arrived in Australia, on a case-by-case basis. The Government has made no firm commitment to provide permanency at the end of the three-year period.
Amnesty has long campaigned against temporary protection. It is inconsistent with Australia’s human rights obligations to leave people in long-term uncertainty.
“Living for years on temporary protection visas causes unnecessary suffering to people like myself, who have sought refuge in Australia. They restrict people’s ability to reunite with their families, study, travel and participate fully in Australian life. These are basic human rights,” said Zaki Haidari, Amnesty International Australia’s Refugee Rights Campaigner.
Amnesty opposes temporary protection visas because they deny people basic human rights. They force people to live in limbo, with no guarantee of a safe future, and without equal access to rights and opportunities. Importantly, people on temporary visas are not able to sponsor family members, denying them the right to reunite with their loved ones.
It is clear this is not an adequate response to people fleeing genocide.
“It is time Australia steps up and fulfils its international and moral obligations. A genocide – carried out and supported by our allies – is taking place in front of our eyes. Palestinians deserve permanent safety and peace of mind, so they can get on with their lives and reunite with their families”, Zaki Haidari, Amnesty International Australia Refugee Campaigner.
