Australia to Recognise Palestine Amid Growing International Momentum
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed that Australia will move to formally recognise the state of Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September. This decision will align Australia with countries such as the United Kingdom, France, and Canada, all of which have signalled similar moves. The recognition, however, comes with a clear condition: Hamas must play no role in Palestine’s future governance.
Albanese explained that Australia’s decision is based on commitments from the Palestinian Authority, including recognition of Israel’s right to exist, disarmament, and the holding of democratic elections. He stressed that the world has waited far too long for progress, with the violence in Gaza now “beyond the world’s worst fears.” Innocent lives continue to be lost, and humanitarian aid remains restricted.
The Prime Minister said the decades-long conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has seen countless failed attempts at peace, but insisted that this was a moment that could not be ignored. “The risk of trying is nothing compared to the danger of letting this moment pass us by,” he noted, urging that political solutions must replace military ones. Foreign Minister Penny Wong echoed this sentiment, pointing out that it has been over 77 years since the promise of a Palestinian state was first made.
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In preparation for the announcement, Albanese spoke with several world leaders, including Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and leaders from France, the UK, Japan, and New Zealand. Netanyahu, however, criticised Australia and other nations for being “delusional” in thinking that recognition would bring peace, warning that it would not alter Israel’s position.
The United States remains the only permanent UN Security Council member opposed to the move, with President Donald Trump saying such recognition would “reward Hamas” for the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The US has previously used its veto power to block Palestine’s admission to the UN.
While critics, including opposition figures in Australia, argue that the conditions for peace have not yet been met, Albanese rejected claims that recognition rewards Hamas, instead framing it as an opportunity to isolate the group through cooperation with the Palestinian Authority and the Arab League.
Australia’s recognition will not change Palestine’s legal standing immediately, but it represents a significant diplomatic step. Albanese called it a “practical contribution” to building momentum towards a two-state solution — the only long-term path, he says, to ending the cycle of violence in the Middle East.
Currently, 147 of the UN’s 193 member states recognise Palestine. If the September vote proceeds as planned, Australia’s decision will add weight to growing international pressure for both sides to take meaningful steps towards peace.
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