Australia to recognise Palestinian state at United Nations in September

Following similar declarations from France, Britain, and Canada, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Monday that Australia will recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly next month. This action increases international pressure on Israel.
“Australia will recognise the State of Palestine at the 80th Sessions of the United Nations General Assembly in September, to contribute to international momentum towards a two-state solution, a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages,” Albanese stated in a statement.

Albanese told reporters in Canberra that recognition would be predicated on commitments Australia received from the Palestinian Authority, including that Islamist militant group Hamas would have no involvement in any future state.

“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,” Albanese said at a press conference.

Albanese claimed that during his conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, he informed him that a political, not a military, solution was required.

The decision to recognize a Palestinian state was “further compelled” by Netanyahu’s disobedience of the international community’s calls and failure to adhere to legal and ethical commitments in Gaza, according to Albanese, who noted that Australia this week condemned Israel’s plan to seize military control of Gaza.

“The Netanyahu Government is extinguishing the prospect of a two-state solution by rapidly expanding illegal settlements, threatening annexation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and explicitly opposing any Palestinian state,” Albanese said in the joint statement with Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

Commitments by the Palestinian Authority to reform governance, demilitarise and hold general elections, as well as Arab League demands for Hamas to end its rule in Gaza, created an opportunity, he said.

“This is an opportunity to isolate Hamas,” he added. Israel’s Ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, criticised Australia’s decision on social media platform X as undermining Israel’s security and derailing hostage negotiations.

Former Australian foreign minister Gareth Evans said it was “absolutely timely” for Australia to move on recognition.

“Australia joining the group of credible voices from the global North, acting now in coordinated harmony with Israel’s Arab neighbours, will help pile new pressure on Netanyahu to change the ever more indefensibly destructive – and self-destructive for Israel – course on which he seems set,” he said in comments.