Australia has announced it will formally recognize the State of Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September, marking a major shift in its Middle East policy. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the move as a decisive step to bolster the two-state solution and respond to the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Seeking Peace Through Conditions
Albanese emphasized that the recognition will be conditional upon agreements from the Palestinian Authority, including the exclusion of Hamas from governance, demilitarization, democratic reforms, and the payment of prisoner-related families being halted. These conditions aim to isolate extremist elements and pave the way for peace. Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong stated that this reflects a strategic and moral stance.
Since Saturday, five individuals have died in Gaza as a result of famine and malnutrition, raising the total to 217, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. It further stated that Israel’s military campaign has killed over 61,000 people since 2023. Israel launched its offensive in response to a Hamas-led attack on October 7, that year, which killed around 1,200 people and kidnapped 251 more. The Palestinian Authority, which oversees sections of Israel’s occupied West Bank, previously stated that acceptance of statehood demonstrates rising support for its people’s self-determination. Australia joins a growing chorus of Western nations—including the UK, France, Canada, and Malta—preparing to recognize Palestine in September. This wave of acknowledgment underscores mounting international pressure for a resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict and humanitarian relief in Gaza.
The announcement garnered a mixed domestic response. Pro-Palestinian groups and Labor-backed factions applauded the policy as a morally grounded and long-overdue step. Meanwhile, critics—including Israeli officials and certain Australian opposition groups—warned the move could embolden Hamas and undermine hostage negotiations.
This development builds on a history of incremental shifts in Australian foreign policy. In 2022, Australia reversed its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and reaffirmed the term “Occupied Palestinian Territories.” Last month, Australia joined the “New York Call,” a joint statement by several countries pushing for UN recognition of Palestine. Prime Minister Albanese defended the move as urgent and necessary, citing the unprecedented suffering in Gaza. “A two-state solution is humanity’s best hope,” he stated, appealing to both humanitarian sensibilities and diplomatic strategy.
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