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The Australian government faced criticism after reports emerged that it granted visas to dozens of Israeli soldiers while denying entry to Egyptian-American satirist Bassem Youssef, a vocal critic of Israel's conduct in Gaza. Rights advocates and commentators questioned the apparent double standard in visa policy. The controversy has fueled broader debate in Australia over the government's approach to individuals connected to the Israel-Gaza conflict, with critics accusing Canberra of inconsistency in its immigration decisions relative to its public statements on the war.