Earlier this year we co-authored two op-eds on this site (“The prosecution of Australians complicit in Israel’s crimes in Gaza” (29 February 2024); “Australians at risk if they serve in the IDF” (19 January 2024)) concerning the legal issues that are raised by Australians travelling to Israel to fight with the Israeli Defence Force (IDF).

On Wednesday The Guardian reported that an FOI request response has revealed; “The Department of Home Affairs and the ABF are aware of four (4) Australian citizens who have travelled outside of Australia since 7 October 2023 and who were suspected to have departed Australia to serve or attempt to serve with the IDF… The ABF intervened with three (3) of the four (4) Australian citizens suspected of departing for Israel since 7 October 2023.”

The Department of Home Affairs and the ABF it seems, has asked no questions of the other Australians who have allegedly headed to Israel for the sole purpose of assisting the IDF in its brutal and unrelenting destruction of lives and key infrastructure in Gaza. The Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ) has identified some 20........

© Pearls and Irritations