Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong has warned that failure to pursue a two-state solution could result in no Palestinian state left to recognise. Speaking on Tuesday, she stressed the urgency of ending the war in Gaza and establishing a pathway to statehood.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, reaffirming Australia's commitment to a two-state solution. He also called for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza and urged Israel to sign a ceasefire.
Wong noted that several allies, including Canada and France, plan to recognise Palestinian statehood at the upcoming UN General Assembly. She reiterated that for Australia, it is a matter of 'when, not if'. However, she acknowledged the dire situation, with Israel controlling about 75% of Gaza's territory and over 60,000 killed.
Opposition frontbencher Julian Leeser argued that recognising a Palestinian state would reward Hamas and send a bad signal, though he supports a two-state solution in principle. He said Hamas's role has made progress more distant than ever.
