Genocide in Gaza, New Zealand Asks Israeli Tourists About Military Service
New Zealand now requires Israelis of military age applying for tourist visas to disclose detailed information about their military service history.
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The immigration authorities of have begun requiring Israeli citizens applying for visas to disclose detailed information about their military service history. This new policy was reported by Israeli media and cited by The Arab News on Wednesday.
According to the Times of Israel, at least one Israeli soldier who participated in the Gaza conflict was denied entry into New Zealand based on his self-reported military history, although the specific date of the incident was not provided.
New Zealand Immigration now requires Israeli citizens of military age applying for tourist visas to declare whether they have served in the military and if they are currently active reservists.
Israeli law mandates national military service for all citizens aged 18.
The visa application process includes a detailed questionnaire regarding military service. Applicants are asked to provide their start date of service, location of service, original unit, military camp, rank, and military identification number.
The questionnaire also inquires about any links to intelligence services, specific law enforcement services, or groups and organizations that use violence or human rights violations to achieve their goals.
Applicants are further asked to disclose any involvement in war crimes, crimes against humanity, or human rights violations.
New Zealand Immigration reportedly does not grant exceptions to Israeli citizens who cannot disclose their military service history for security reasons. Failure to complete the questionnaire also results in visa denial.
One unnamed Israeli soldier reported that his visa was denied by New Zealand even though he claimed to have not participated in war crimes in Gaza.
It has also been reported that Australia has implemented a similar policy, resulting in the denial of entry for two Israeli citizens.
When contacted for clarification, the New Zealand Office, while not denying the report, stated that serving in the Gaza conflict is not an automatic reason for denying entry to Israeli citizens.
Editor's Choice:
to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
