61-year-old Palestinian woman, who escaped Gaza, apprehended by authorities during pre-dawn operation in Sydney | Australia’s immigration and asylum policies

A Palestinian woman named Maha Almassri, aged 61, was detained by Australian immigration authorities during a pre-dawn raid in Sydney. About 15 Australian Border Force officers woke her up at her son’s home in western Sydney at around 5:30 am on Thursday. Her cousin, Mohammed Almassri, informed that more officers were stationed outside the house. Maha, who left Gaza via Rafah in February 2024 and entered Australia on a tourist visa, has been living with her son. She was told she had failed a visa character check and was taken to Bankstown police station before being transferred to Villawood detention center. In a document viewed by Guardian Australia, it was stated that her visa was canceled by the assistant minister for citizenship and cultural affairs, citing national security concerns and the suspicion that she did not pass the character test. The migraine act defines failing the character test as being assessed by ASIO as a direct or indirect risk to security. The Refugee Advice and Casework Service, representing Maha, had nothing to comment at the moment. Human rights lawyer Alison Battisson questioned the decision to detain a Palestinian grandma, highlighting the lack of a feasible return destination for her.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/11/palestinian-woman-who-fled-gaza-detained-by-authorities-after-pre-dawn-raid-in-sydney-ntwnfb