Australia blocks visit by Israel activist Hillel Fuld
(Video: Miki Shmidt)
Fuld, who holds dual citizenship in the United States and Israel, was scheduled to speak on June 12 and June 16 at events hosted by Magen David Adom Australia, the local branch of Israel’s national emergency medical service. The Department of Home Affairs cancelled his visa without prior notice, invoking a rarely used discretionary power that allows for the immediate revocation of a visa while the holder is outside the country.
Speaking from Israel, Fuld said he was blindsided by the move. “I found out through a journalist,” he said in an interview. “No one from the Australian government even contacted me. I still haven’t received an official explanation.”
Behind the scenes, internal documents from Australia’s Department of Home Affairs paint a clearer picture. The government claims Fuld’s presence in the country could pose a “risk to the Australian community,” citing his social media activity, including posts that deny reports of casualty numbers coming from Hamas authorities in Gaza and comments perceived as Islamophobic.
Fuld rejects the accusations
“I have never incited violence or hatred,” he said. “I speak out against terrorism and antisemitism. If that’s controversial, then we have a much bigger problem.”
According to the internal assessment, Australian immigration authorities were concerned that Fuld’s speeches could “incite discord” and potentially stoke community tensions, especially toward the Muslim population. The department specifically noted that some of his online statements had been received as inflammatory by segments of the public.
Fuld, however, argues that the move is politically motivated. “I think it’s pretty clear this is not about public safety,” he said. “It’s about silencing a pro-Israel voice, plain and simple. They’re responding to pressure from people who don’t like what I have to say.”
Australian Jewish leaders have expressed concern over the cancellation, calling it a dangerous precedent. One source familiar with the case said, “We now have a situation where expressing support for Israel—even in the context of defending a country from terror—can be treated as a threat to the public.”
The Department of Home Affairs also pointed to a discrepancy in Fuld’s visa application: in 2018, he declared dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship, but in 2025, he listed only U.S. citizenship. While not cited as the reason for cancellation, this omission was referenced as showing a “disregard” for immigration rules. Fuld calls the accusation “petty.”
“I filled out the form as an American. That’s how I travel. This wasn’t some elaborate deception.”
Now barred from entering the country, Fuld must decide whether to request a revocation of the cancellation—an option available to him under immigration rules, though one with no guarantee of success. If the decision stands, he could be banned from receiving another visa for three years.
Still, Fuld says the bigger issue isn’t personal. “I’m not worried about me,” he said. “I’m worried about what this says about Australia. That a democratic country can ban someone for defending Israel and calling out Hamas—that should scare anyone who cares about freedom.”
Asked whether he would try to return to Australia, Fuld paused. “I would love to come back. But only if I can speak freely.”
