Enforce Migration Act provisions against suspected IDF war criminals
The issue
We call upon the Minister for Home Affairs and the Australian Federal Police to investigate and, where appropriate, deny entry to current and former IDF personnel travelling to Australia to participate in the Sydney Marathon, pursuant to section 501 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth).
Under Australian law, a person fails the character test and may have their visa refused or cancelled if there is reason to suspect they have been involved in genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity —and this applies without requiring a criminal conviction.
The reported delegation includes personnel from the Golani Brigade's 13th Battalion, a unit whose reconnaissance battalion was involved in the March 2025 Rafah ambulance attack, in which 15 Palestinian medics, civil defence workers, and a UN employee were killed. The IDF's own inquiry confirmed the deputy commander opened fire on the convoy and filed a false report.
The delegation also reportedly includes a former member of Unit 8200—Israel's signals intelligence unit—who served as Head of Cyber Security Analysis until January 2026. This unit has been identified as the builder of AI systems used to generate Gaza's "kill lists" and was linked to the development of booby-trapped pagers that killed at least 37 people in Lebanon in September 2024.
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The Legal Grounds
1. Section 501 of the Migration Act 1958
A non-citizen's visa may be refused or cancelled if they do not pass the character test. A person fails the test if they are "reasonably suspected" of having been involved in:
· Genocide
· War crimes
· Crimes against humanity
No conviction is required—credible information, including intelligence reports and news articles, can trigger exclusion.
2. International Law Obligations
The UN Commission of Inquiry, which included Australian barrister Chris Sidoti on its panel, found in September 2025 that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza. Sidoti has stated that Israeli personnel who served there should be interrogated wherever they land.
3. The "Peace Delegation" Claim
The delegation is being promoted by the Zionist Council of NSW as a "peace delegation" and sponsored by the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC). However, the participation of personnel linked to the Golani Brigade's Rafah operation—where 15 humanitarian workers were killed and their bodies bulldozed into a mass grave—undermines any claim to peaceful intent.
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Our Demands
1. Immediate Investigation: The Australian Federal Police and Department of Home Affairs must investigate the backgrounds of all IDF personnel reported to be travelling for the Sydney Marathon.
2. Visa Refusal or Cancellation: Any individual reasonably suspected of involvement in war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide must be denied entry under section 501 of the Migration Act.
3. Public Accountability: The Minister for Home Affairs must issue a public statement confirming that Australia will not provide safe passage to individuals reasonably suspected of international crimes.
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Why This Matters
Australia has a proud tradition of upholding international law and human rights. We cannot allow our shores to become a venue for individuals reasonably suspected of war crimes to compete in a civilian sporting event, cheered on by delegations that portray them as "peaceful".
The Sydney Marathon is a celebration of human endurance and unity. It should not become a platform for normalising military forces implicated in documented civilian deaths, including of humanitarian workers.
If the law exists, it must be enforced—equally and without exception.
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The issue
We call upon the Minister for Home Affairs and the Australian Federal Police to investigate and, where appropriate, deny entry to current and former IDF personnel travelling to Australia to participate in the Sydney Marathon, pursuant to section 501 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth).
Under Australian law, a person fails the character test and may have their visa refused or cancelled if there is reason to suspect they have been involved in genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity —and this applies without requiring a criminal conviction.
The reported delegation includes personnel from the Golani Brigade's 13th Battalion, a unit whose reconnaissance battalion was involved in the March 2025 Rafah ambulance attack, in which 15 Palestinian medics, civil defence workers, and a UN employee were killed. The IDF's own inquiry confirmed the deputy commander opened fire on the convoy and filed a false report.
The delegation also reportedly includes a former member of Unit 8200—Israel's signals intelligence unit—who served as Head of Cyber Security Analysis until January 2026. This unit has been identified as the builder of AI systems used to generate Gaza's "kill lists" and was linked to the development of booby-trapped pagers that killed at least 37 people in Lebanon in September 2024.
---
The Legal Grounds
1. Section 501 of the Migration Act 1958
A non-citizen's visa may be refused or cancelled if they do not pass the character test. A person fails the test if they are "reasonably suspected" of having been involved in:
· Genocide
· War crimes
· Crimes against humanity
No conviction is required—credible information, including intelligence reports and news articles, can trigger exclusion.
2. International Law Obligations
The UN Commission of Inquiry, which included Australian barrister Chris Sidoti on its panel, found in September 2025 that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza. Sidoti has stated that Israeli personnel who served there should be interrogated wherever they land.
3. The "Peace Delegation" Claim
The delegation is being promoted by the Zionist Council of NSW as a "peace delegation" and sponsored by the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC). However, the participation of personnel linked to the Golani Brigade's Rafah operation—where 15 humanitarian workers were killed and their bodies bulldozed into a mass grave—undermines any claim to peaceful intent.
---
Our Demands
1. Immediate Investigation: The Australian Federal Police and Department of Home Affairs must investigate the backgrounds of all IDF personnel reported to be travelling for the Sydney Marathon.
2. Visa Refusal or Cancellation: Any individual reasonably suspected of involvement in war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide must be denied entry under section 501 of the Migration Act.
3. Public Accountability: The Minister for Home Affairs must issue a public statement confirming that Australia will not provide safe passage to individuals reasonably suspected of international crimes.
---
Why This Matters
Australia has a proud tradition of upholding international law and human rights. We cannot allow our shores to become a venue for individuals reasonably suspected of war crimes to compete in a civilian sporting event, cheered on by delegations that portray them as "peaceful".
The Sydney Marathon is a celebration of human endurance and unity. It should not become a platform for normalising military forces implicated in documented civilian deaths, including of humanitarian workers.
If the law exists, it must be enforced—equally and without exception.
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Petition created on 27 August 2026