Informal talks are under way in the federal government on whether to issue a fresh ban on Australians travelling to some Middle East hotspots to stop them taking up arms for terrorist groups, amid rising tensions sparked by Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel.

With security agencies on high alert to people becoming radicalised in response to Israel’s heavy strikes against Gaza, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and police chiefs told a parliamentary inquiry on Monday that powers allowing the government to designate countries as no-go zones needed to be retained as an important tool in keeping Australians safe.