WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Australia will recognize a Palestinian state, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday, joining the leaders of France, Britain and Canada in signaling they would do so.
His remarks followed weeks of urging from within his Cabinet and from many in Australia to recognize a Palestinian state and amid growing criticism from officials in his government over suffering in Gaza, which Albanese on Monday referred to as a “humanitarian catastrophe.”
Australia’s government has also criticized plans announced in recent days by Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu for a sweeping new military offensive in Gaza.
Albanese told reporters after a Cabinet meeting Monday that Australia’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state will be formalized at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The acknowledgement was “predicated on commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority,” Albanese said.
Those commitments included no role for Hamas in a Palestinian government, demilitarization of Gaza and the holding of elections, he said.
“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.
“The situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world’s worst fears,” he said. “The Israeli government continues to defy international law and deny sufficient aid, food and water to desperate people, including children.”
Ahead of Albanese’s announcement, Netanyahu on Sunday criticized Australia and other European countries that have moved to recognize a Palestinian state.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Australia and European nations for their planned recognition of a Palestinian state, calling the move a "shameful canard" and expressing disappointment at their actions
Australia has designated Hamas a terrorist entity and Albanese repeated Monday his government’s calls for the group to return Israeli hostages held since Oct. 7, 2023.
The Australian leader last week spoke to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose authority administers parts of the occupied West Bank, supports a two-state solution and cooperates with Israel on security matters. Abbas has agreed to conditions with Western leaders, including Albanese, as they prepared to recognize a Palestinian state.
Australia to Recognize Palestinian State, Conditional on Hamas Isolation and Demilitarization: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Australia's intention to formally recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September. This decision, contingent upon the Palestinian Authority's commitment to a Hamas-free government, Gaza demilitarization, and free elections, aims to achieve a two-state solution and end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Albanese emphasized that Hamas' rejection of a two-state solution necessitates its removal from power
Over 140 UN member states, many decades ago, already recognize Palestine as a state. However, nations like the US and other Western powers have withheld recognition, linking it to a final agreement resolving the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Australia officially recognizes a Palestinian state, contingent upon Palestinian Authority commitments to exclude Hamas, demilitarize Gaza, and hold elections. This decision, mirroring similar moves by France, Britain, and Canada, follows growing international condemnation of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israel's actions. However, Israel and the United States reject this symbolic recognition, with Netanyahu criticizing the move as "shameful." The Australian announcement, to be formalized at the UN General Assembly, underscores the global push for a two-state solution to end the ongoing conflict
A two-state solution would see a state of Palestine created alongside Israel in most or all of the occupied West Bank, the war-ravaged Gaza Strip and annexed east Jerusalem, territories Israel seized in the 1967 Mideast war that the Palestinians want for their state.
Albanese dismissed suggestions Monday that the move was solely symbolic.
“This is a practical contribution towards building momentum,” he said. “This is not Australia acting alone.”
Albanese had discussed Australia’s decision with the leaders of Britain, France, New Zealand and Japan, he said. He also had a “long discussion” with Netanyahu this month, he added.
In neighboring New Zealand, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Monday his government “will carefully weigh up its position” on recognizing a Palestinian state before making a formal decision in September.
“New Zealand has been clear for some time that our recognition of a Palestinian state is a matter of when, not if,” Peters said in a statement.
After Albanese’s announcement Monday, Israel’s envoy to Australia said the move undermined Israel’s security.
“By recognising a Palestinian state now, Australia elevates the position of Hamas, a group it acknowledges as a terrorist organisation,” Amir Maimon posted to X.
“This commitment removes any incentive or diplomatic pressure for the Palestinians to do the things that have always stood in the way of ending the conflict,” spokesperson for the Executive Council of the Australian Jewry Alex Ryvchin said in a statement.
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Meanwhile, President of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network Nasser Mashni decried Albanese’s recognition as too late and “completely meaningless” while the country continues to trade with Israel.
He told reporters in Melbourne on Monday that the move would do nothing to end the “ongoing genocide in Gaza which has been live streamed for the entire world for two years.”
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