Australia will formally recognise the state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly next month, on the condition that Hamas plays no role in its future governance.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the decision is based on commitments from the Palestinian Authority to recognise Israel’s right to exist, demilitarise, and hold elections.
“A two-state solution is humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza,” Mr Albanese said, stressing the urgency of action despite decades of failed peace efforts.
He accused Israel of defying international law and blocking vital humanitarian aid to Gaza, insisting “far too many innocent lives have been lost.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong noted it had been over 77 years since the promise of a Palestinian state, adding, “We can’t keep waiting for the end of a peace process that has ground to a halt.”
The move aligns Australia with allies including the United Kingdom, France, and Canada, all expected to recognise Palestine at the September UN meeting. Recognition will not immediately change Palestine’s legal status but aims to add diplomatic pressure on Israel and the US, which has veto power over Security Council resolutions and has previously blocked Palestine’s admission.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the decision as “shameful” and “delusional,” warning it would not bring peace.
The Palestinian Authority’s President Mahmoud Abbas told Mr Albanese that Australia could play an “important” diplomatic role as a middle power.
Currently, 147 of the UN’s 193 member states recognise Palestine as a sovereign nation.
Source: ABC News
