Australia to Recognize Palestinian State at UN
Albanese backs two-state solution amid Gaza crisis.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Australia will formally recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September, aligning with France, Britain, and Canada. Speaking to reporters in Wellington after a Cabinet meeting, Albanese said the decision follows weeks of internal urging from his government and mounting criticism over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including widespread suffering and starvation.
The move also comes in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent plans for a sweeping military offensive in Gaza, which Australia has publicly opposed.
Albanese emphasized that recognition is contingent on commitments from the Palestinian Authority, including excluding Hamas from governance, demilitarizing Gaza, and holding elections. “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,” he stated.
The decision marks a significant shift in Australia’s foreign policy, reflecting growing international support for Palestinian statehood and a push for a sustainable resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Albanese’s announcement underscores Australia’s commitment to promoting peace and addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
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