Israel’s ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon declines to weigh in on Peter Dutton’s plan to deport dual citizen criminals

Israel’s ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon declined to share his opinion on Peter Dutton’s proposal to deport dual citizen criminals.

Israel’s ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon has declined to weigh in on Peter Dutton’s proposal to deport dual citizens convicted of major crimes.

The Opposition Leader has said he would consider calling a referendum as “a last resort” to give the government powers to deport dual citizens, if it cannot gain legislative change to tighten existing laws.

Speaking in Canberra on Wednesday, Mr Maimon said it was a decision for the Australian government.

His comments came as two Sydney nurses Ahmad Rashad Nadir, 27, and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, 26, faced court on charges of making alleged threats to kill Israeli patients in a video which was uploaded by Israeli content creator Max Veifer.

“I can only say that I expect the Australian government to take all necessary actions in order to make sure that similar acts of anti-Semitism will not be repeated,” Mr Maimon said.

Ahmad Rashad Nadir appeared at court for the first time on Wednesday. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

“I do expect them to make sure that those who were caught and those who committed acts against the Jewish community … or against any other community, should be brought to trial and should be sentenced according to the Australian law.”

On Wednesday, Mr Dutton said he wanted a “mandate” from Australians to upgrade laws “necessary to keep us safe”.

“So, we’re suggesting here that if we can tighten the laws, we do that. As a last resort, if there’s a change to the Constitution required, we can have that discussion,” he said.

Mr Maimon also commented on Israel’s latest wave of deadly strikes on the Gaza Strip in retaliation over the release of the remaining 59 hostages still held by Hamas forces.

The attacks follow the first stage of the ceasefire, which ended on March 1.

Israel has also ceased allowing humanitarian aid from entering Gaza – a move it says will was warranted due to claims Hamas was profiting off the provisions.

According to the Gazan Health Ministry more than 420 Palestinians have died in the attacks, a figure Israel disputes.

Israel's Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon declined to share his views on Peter Dutton’s proposal to deport dual citizens convicted of major crimes. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

Mr Maimon said the Israel will continue the attacks until the remaining hostages are released.

“It will continue as long as it will require to bring our people back, to relegate the Hamas and to make sure that the Hamas will not pose any threat on Israel,” he said.

“That is very clear.”

Responding to the renewed conflict, Anthony Albanese said the government will continue to advocate for “peace in the region,” and called for all parties to respect the ceasefire and follow through with the terms of the hostage deal.

“We don’t want to see innocent people suffer. There’s already been enormous suffering there, which is why we’re calling upon all parties to respect the ceasefire and hostage deal that was put in place,” he said on Tuesday.

The Coalition’s foreign affairs spokesman David Coleman said continuing the ceasefire was incumbent on Hamas releasing the hostages.

“The conflict is occurring because Hamas committed mass murder, because Hamas has not returned the hostages and because Hamas wants conflict to continue and wants to wipe Israel off the face of the earth,” he told the ABC.

“That’s the reality, and so Hamas can stop the conflict by returning the hostages, and that’s what needs to happen.”