(The Australian, 15/8/2024)
Please God stop the persecution happening all over again just when the innocents reach what should be a safe haven – Mark
A Palestinian neurosurgeon whose family fled Gaza has said her newly arrived community had come here not just seeking help from Australia but to work for it, pleading with the government to ignore the Coalition’s call for a blanket ban on new arrivals.
Urging a total ban on arrivals from Gaza, Peter Dutton claimed on Wednesday that the Albanese government couldn’t be sure about the “identity or allegiances” of those arriving.
Dr Mona Kaskeen said Gazans were indebted to Australia for the chance to build new lives and shouldn’t all be tainted with a Hamas brush, saying that anyone from or supportive of the group would struggle to cross the border into Egypt or pass ASIO’s vetting.
“We all came here as teachers, doctors, engineers – all very qualified and highly educated – to build a decent and responsible life in Australia,” she said from her new but temporary home in Sydney.
“Not just to get help, but to improve our lives, work for the (Australian community) and be helpful.”
On Wednesday, it was revealed the Home Affairs Department had granted almost 3000 visas to Palestinians since October 7, rejecting applications from more than 7100, coming before a permanent visa process for Gazan refugees.
Dr Kaskeen worked at Al-Shifa Hospital for two decades, before leaving soon after October 7 when her home was destroyed, later working in hospitals in Khan Younis and Rafa, where she was homeless.
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