Canberra (TDI): Australia will formally recognize the State of Palestine during next month’s United Nations General Assembly meeting, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday.
The move follows similar steps by France, Britain, and Canada, and is aimed at building momentum for a two-state solution, securing a ceasefire in Gaza, and facilitating the release of hostages.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting in Canberra, Albanese said the recognition would be based on assurances from the Palestinian Authority that Hamas would have no role in the future governance of a Palestinian state.
“A two-state solution remains the best hope for ending the cycle of violence in the Middle East and alleviating the suffering and starvation in Gaza,” he said.
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Albanese revealed that he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last Thursday, stressing that the crisis required a political settlement rather than a military approach.
The prime minister also criticized Israel’s plans to maintain military control over Gaza, saying the decision to proceed with recognition was reinforced by what he described as Netanyahu’s dismissal of international concerns and his government’s continued expansion of illegal settlements.
According to Albanese, recent commitments from the Palestinian Authority to improve governance, demilitarize, and hold elections, alongside Arab League calls for Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza, had created an opportunity to move forward.
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In a related development, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Wellington was also weighing the possibility of recognizing a Palestinian state. A decision is expected in September, to be presented at the UN Leaders’ Week.
Peters emphasized that New Zealand’s position would be guided by its principles and national interest, noting: “We have long said that recognizing Palestine is a matter of when, not if.”
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
