Australia will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday.
Gatekeepers News reports that this decision comes after similar moves by the UK, France, and Canada.
Albanese said the decision was made after receiving commitments from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that Hamas would play no role in any future state.
The Prime Minister emphasised that 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.”
The move has been met with criticism from Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu describing it as “disappointing” and “shameful.” Netanyahu argued that countries recognising Palestinian statehood would react differently if they faced a similar threat.
The US has also expressed its opposition, with Vice-President JD Vance stating that the country has no plans to recognise a Palestinian state, citing a lack of functional government.
Albanese, however, emphasised that there is a “moment of opportunity” for a two-state solution and that Australia will work with the international community to seize it.
The decision comes as the conflict in Gaza continues, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting 217 deaths due to starvation and malnutrition, and over 61,000 people killed since the Israeli military campaign began in 2023.
The state of Palestine is currently recognised by 147 of the UN’s 193 member states and has the status of a “permanent observer state,” allowing participation but no voting rights.
