27th August 2026
The Australian Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) is calling for urgent scrutiny of reports that current and former Israeli soldiers, including reported members of the Golani Brigade, are travelling to Australia to participate in the Sydney Marathon. APAN says Australia cannot claim to uphold international law while potentially allowing individuals suspected of involvement in serious international crimes, including plausible genocide, to enter the country without proper investigation, and is demanding the Australian Government and AFP act before the event proceeds.
— Nasser Mashni, President, Australia Palestine Advocacy Network
“Australia has clear legal obligations under international law. As UN Commissioner and Australian human rights lawyer Chris Sidoti has stated, any member of the IDF who served in Gaza since October 7 should be treated as a suspect, investigated, and prosecuted.”
“Yet instead of upholding these obligations, organisations like the Zionist Council of NSW, AIJAC, and the United Israel Appeal are sponsoring the arrival of up to 40 current and former Israeli soldiers, reportedly including members of the Golani Brigade, linked to the killing of humanitarian workers in Rafah, to run the Sydney Marathon in some Orwellian exercise in cultural exchange.”
“This follows a pattern that is actively destroying social cohesion in this country. Our government welcomed President Herzog, a man who unapologetically signed bombs dropped on innocents in Gaza.Now these same Zionist lobby organisations are parading serving soldiers through our streets, all while refusing to acknowledge any connection between Israel’s conduct and rising antisemitism in Australia.”
“It is breathtakingly astonishing that these Israel-first lobby groups demand a restoration of social cohesion whilst celebrating those credibly accused of war crimes and genocide. These individuals must be questioned, investigated, and if the evidence warrants it, prosecuted. They must not be allowed to walk our streets until the AFP is satisfied they are innocent.”
“Australians know what they have seen on their screens for the best part of three years, and we deserve better than this exercise in sportswashing the genocide in Gaza.”
Ends