SYDNEY — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday reiterated his rejection of opposition leader Peter Dutton's call to ban Palestinians fleeing Gaza from entering Australia, accusing the opposition of trying to "whip up fear."

Dutton had argued that allowing people from a war zone into Australia could "put national security at risk."

However, Albanese criticized this rhetoric, stating that it was causing division within the community at a time when security leaders were urging "social cohesion," as reported by local broadcaster SBS News.

"What does Peter Dutton do? He doesn't talk about issues of concern to Australians; instead, he tries to whip up fear," Albanese told reporters in Sydney.

He also noted that "the borders at the moment are closed, of course, through the Rafah crossing."

According to the Department of Home Affairs, approximately 2,922 visas have been approved for Palestinians fleeing the conflict, with 1,300 of them arriving "safely" in Australia.

Meanwhile, 7,100 visa applications from Palestinian territories have been rejected.

Dutton has reiterated his call for a visa ban until security vetting processes can be "guaranteed," arguing that without thorough background checks, it is difficult to determine who poses a potential threat. His comments have drawn criticism from Labor, the Greens, some crossbenchers, and Palestinian groups. — Agencies