A Palestinian “terrorist” who hijacked two planes and branded Hamas soldiers responsible for the October 7 attacks as “freedom fighters” may be coming to Australia.
Leila Khaled is listed as a keynote speaker at the June Ecosocialism event in Perth, organized by the Socialist Alliance and the Green Left media outlet.
However, members of the Australian-Jewish community have called for him to be banned from entering Australia due to his complicated history as a prominent member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
The now elderly woman remains a member of the extremist Marxist group known for hijacking planes, murders and suicide bombings.
The PFLP is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Canada, while Australia has placed the group under financial sanctions.
Leila Khaled (pictured) is listed as a keynote speaker at the June Ecosocialism event in Perth, organized by the Socialist Alliance and the Green Left media outlet.
The Australian Jewish Association condemned Khaled’s appearance on Ecosocialism in a tweet on Monday.
‘What a great example of the fusion of far-left politics and radical “Palestinian” activism [and] terrorism, in this case the hijacking of airplanes,” he stated.
The PFLP gained worldwide infamy in the late 1960s and early 1970s due to a series of airline hijackings and bombings.
Ms. Khaled was involved in at least two of the group’s kidnappings.
In 1969, he helped hijack Trans World Airlines Flight 840 traveling from Rome, Italy, to Tel Aviv, Israel, as the group believed that Israel’s ambassador to the United States was on board.
No one was injured in the attack, but the hijackers blew off the nose of the plane.
Ms. Khaled was involved in a second hijacking a year later, when she attempted to hijack El Al Flight 219 from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to New York City, United States.
She, along with another co-hijacker, threatened to detonate grenades inside the plane if the pilot did not let them into the cockpit.
Shots were fired and the plane plummeted before landing.
He Sydney Morning Herald claims the Albanian government has indicated it will not allow Ms Khaled to enter Australia.
In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, a government spokesperson said it “is aware of this case.”
‘The Immigration Law is clear. “All people applying for visas, no matter where they are from, must pass security checks, as has been the case in all governments,” they said.
“The Government cannot comment on individual cases.”
Ecosocialism organizers have stated that if Khaled is denied entry to Australia, she will still be invited to speak at the conference via video chat.
On the Ecosocialism 2024 website, Ms. Khaled is described as an “iconic Palestinian revolutionary activist, member of the national committee of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and representative on the Palestinian National Council.”
The government spokesman warned Khaled could face prosecution if he was found to be inciting terrorism in Australia, even if he speaks from another country.
A government spokesman warned Khaled (pictured) could face prosecution if he was found to be inciting terrorism in Australia, even if he speaks from another country.
“It is a criminal offense to defend terrorism.” [under] Article 80.2 of the Penal Code,” they said.
‘The offense of advocacy of terrorism can apply even when the person is in a foreign country, provided the result of the conduct occurs in Australia. As such, it could apply even if a person appeared online rather than in person in Australia.
“Furthermore, the Albanese government’s banned symbols legislation, which came into force last month, makes it a criminal offense under Commonwealth law to glorify or praise acts of terrorism.”
More to come.