Tony Burke demands answers after Hamas-praising Palestinian woman granted Australian visa

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has demanded answers after a Palestinian woman who praised a Hamas terror attack on Israel was granted an Australian visa.

Mona Zahed had thanked Allah for keeping her alive long enough to witness Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack on a music festival — where more than 1200 people were slaughtered and 250 hostages seized.

She had rejoiced in a social media post which included a photo of panicked, fleeing festival-goers: “Praise be to Allah who has kept us alive to see this day” and “we always see you well”.

“We woke up and got God’s kingdom,” she declared in another.

It’s understood the Hamas sympathiser had received visa approval with the support of controversial Melbourne-based artist and anti-Israel children’s author Matt Chun for a speaking tour in Australia.

A spokesman for Minister Burke on Friday issued a statement after her visa approval made headlines across Australia, confirming he had questioned the Department of Home Affairs about Ms Zahed’s visa status.

“This is a serious issue. The Government is taking it seriously, questions were put to the department as soon as the Minister’s office became aware,” the Labor minister’s office said.

“The Government is serious in its view about not importing hatred and we set a higher bar when the purpose of someone’s visit is a speaking tour.”

He also confirmed Ms Zahed was currently overseas and not in Australia.

Shadow Home Affairs Minister Andrew Hastie labelled it “yet another immigration failure by the Albanese Labor Government ” if the woman was granted a visa despite her previous online remarks.

“Any person that shows support for a terrorist organisation should not be granted a visa to Australia,” Mr Hastie said.

“If a visa has been granted, Tony Burke must immediately explain why, under his watch, an individual who celebrated the October 7 terrorist attack has been allowed to enter our country.”

Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie questioned how the Albanese Government would allow someone who celebrated the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack which sparked the Gaza conflict into the county.

“Self-declared Jew haters, self-declared terrorist sympathisers. She shouldn’t be allowed in. On what planet do we think it’s okay? That is not the way to build social cohesion,” Ms McKenzie said.

“Importing values which are sympathetic to the horrific actions of Hamas on October 7, and it’s actually against building a cohesive society.”

Hamas is listed as a designated a terrorist group by the Australian government and has been condemned for the civilian attack.

Ms Zahed’s visa approval comes as the Government is considering joining a string of other allied nations in recognising a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in New York in September.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said Hamas must play no governing role in any future Palestinian authority and statehood needs to come at the most effective time to ensure peace and the security of Israel.