Palestinian woman, 61, who fled Gaza detained by authorities after pre-dawn raid in Sydney

Published on July 11, 2025
Palestinian woman, 61, who fled Gaza detained by authorities after pre-dawn raid in Sydney

Maha Almassri told she had failed a visa character check and taken to Bankstown police station, then Villawood detention centre, cousin says

A Palestinian woman who arrived in Australia from Gaza has been detained by immigration authorities after a pre-dawn raid in Sydney.

Maha Almassri, 61, was woken by about 15 Australian Border Force officers at her son’s home in western Sydney at about 5.30am on Thursday, her cousin Mohammed Almassri told Guardian Australia.

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Australian immigration and asyNew South WalesIsrael-Gaza warSydneyAustralia news