Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed that Australia will recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly next month, describing a two-state solution as 'humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East'. The announcement comes amid growing international pressure on Israel over its military campaign in Gaza.
Speaking on Monday, Albanese said he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, telling him 'the situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world’s worst fears'. More than 60,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Gaza since the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, according to local health authorities.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated: 'We can’t keep waiting for the end of a peace process that has ground to a halt.' She added that the international community must 'forge hope from despair' by supporting the Palestinian Authority’s reforms and the Arab League’s efforts to isolate Hamas.
The decision has drawn criticism from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, which called it a 'betrayal', and from Coalition defence spokesperson Angus Taylor, who deemed it 'premature'. However, Labor Friends of Palestine welcomed the move, saying it 'delivers on policy long supported by Labor members'.
Australia’s pledge matches similar commitments from France, Canada, and the UK, reflecting growing global momentum for Palestinian statehood. Albanese stressed that recognition is conditional on commitments from the Palestinian Authority, including demilitarisation, recognition of Israel, and governance reforms.
