Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced Australia will recognise the state of Palestine at a meeting of the UN General Assembly in September.
It follows recent similar declarations by Canada, the UK, and France.
“Until Israeli and Palestinian statehood is permanent, peace can only be temporary,” Albanese said.
The decision comes amid growing condemnation of Israel’s planned military takeover in Gaza.
“The Netanyahu Government has ignored international opposition to its conduct of the war in Gaza,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.
Context
When a country formally recognises another state, it acknowledges that state’s independence and accepts it as a legitimate member of the international community.
This recognition typically leads to establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries.
147 of the United Nations’ 193 members recognise Palestine as a state. However, the U.S. and many of its allies support a “two-state solution,” meaning they only plan to recognise Palestine after it reaches a negotiated agreement with Israel.
Australia
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared Australia will formally recognise the State of Palestine at a meeting of the UN General Assembly this September.
Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, he said: “The toll of the status quo is growing by the day and it could be measured in innocent lives. The world cannot wait for success to be guaranteed.
“That only means waiting for a day that will never come.“
Albanese also said: “We want to see the hostages released. We wanted to see the hostages never taken.”
He added: “There can be no role for the terrorists of Hamas in a future Palestinian state.”
Today, the Palestinian Authority governs some of the West Bank, while Hamas runs Gaza.
Albanese also said: “The Palestinian Authority has reaffirmed it recognises Israel’s right to exist in peace and security. It has committed to demilitarise and to hold general elections.”
Opposition
Shadow Defence Minister Angus Taylor has criticised the Government’s announcement.
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“The pre-conditions necessary for a lasting peace are not in place,” Taylor said in a press conference this afternoon.
“Those pre-conditions have been clear for a long time: release of hostages, demilitarisation of Hamas, a commitment to peaceful co-existence and agreed border...
“The risk is that the Government is putting the cart before the horse.”
Elsewhere
On 24 July, French President Emmanuel Macron declared his country would recognise Palestinian statehood — becoming the first G7 nation (a group of major global economies) to announce plans to recognise a Palestinian state.
“It is our responsibility... to prove that peace is possible,” Macron said.
Days later, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain would recognise the state of Palestine, unless Israel meets certain conditions.
Starmer called for Israel to “end the appalling situation in Gaza,” agree to a ceasefire, and move toward a two-state solution.
Canada announced it would recognise a Palestinian state the next day.
Canada’s PM Mark Carney said the “suffering of civilians” in Gaza “leaves no room for delaying coordinated international action to support peace, security and the dignity of human life.”
All three nations are part of the G7. Fellow member Germany halted its export of weapons to Israel “that could be used in the Gaza Strip” over the weekend.
Israel's response
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused countries of “rewarding” Hamas by recognising Palestine.
France, the UK, and Canada all agree Hamas “must play no role in the future governance of Palestine.” Albanese echoed these comments and said he’d "sought and received" assurances from the Palestinian Authority that Hamas would have no role.
Overnight, Netanyahu said the possibility of Australia recognising Palestine was “disappointing, and… actually shameful”.
Latest
The news comes as the Israeli security cabinet approved a plan to take “control” of Gaza, a move criticised by the families of hostages, who called it a "death sentence... for [their] loved ones".
In today’s press conference, Albanese said Netanyahu had “foreshadowed” this. Albanese said he had “expressed my concern with such a direction.”
Since the conflict began in 2023, Israel has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to data cited by the UN. Israel’s war in Gaza has caused a humanitarian crisis and much of Gaza’s population is experiencing famine.
