Three Israeli siblings who would rather face prison than serve in the IDF have won the right to reapply for Australian protection visas, after a government tribunal agreed that forcing them to fight in Gaza might be a bit much to ask.

The Administrative Review Tribunal found that the young adults' fear of being forced to break international humanitarian law in Gaza was genuine, and that any punishment from Israel - including up to two years in prison for refusing to serve - would amount to persecution. The tribunal noted credible allegations that Israel's military operations in Gaza breach international law, including a UN Commission of Inquiry report accusing Israel of genocide, though the tribunal stopped short of making that finding itself.

The siblings, part of a family that arrived on a working visa a decade ago, had made a pact to refuse compulsory national service because they believed they'd be forced to commit war crimes. The tribunal bought it, ruling that their political opinion - basically, 'we'd rather not commit atrocities, thanks' - would be the reason for their persecution. The family's initial protection visa application was rejected, but now the government has to reconsider.

The tribunal did reject the family's broader claim that they weren't safe from Hamas attacks anywhere in Israel, noting that being caught in a rocket strike wouldn't be discriminatory - just unlucky. But for the three adult siblings, the risk of Israeli prison for refusing to serve was enough to qualify as refugees. The entire family now gets a second shot at protection, because apparently Australia is now in the business of saving people from their own countries' draft laws.