Australia newest to say it would acknowledge a Palestinian state

Australia will acknowledge a Palestinian state, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese mentioned Monday, becoming a member of the leaders of France, Britain and Canada in signaling they’d achieve this.

His remarks adopted weeks of urging from inside his Cupboard and from many in Australia to acknowledge a Palestinian state and amid rising criticism from officers in his authorities over struggling in Gaza, which Albanese on Monday known as a “humanitarian catastrophe.”

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks throughout a press convention in Canberra on August 11, 2025.

HILARY WARDHAUGH/AFP by way of Getty Photographs

Australia’s authorities has additionally criticized plans introduced in current days by Israeli chief Benjamin Netanyahu for a sweeping new navy offensive in Gaza.

Netanyahu on Sunday defended the offensive — which is extra sweeping than beforehand introduced — declaring within the face of rising condemnation at residence and overseas that Israel “has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas.”

Netanyahu mentioned the safety Cupboard final week instructed the dismantling of Hamas strongholds not solely in Gaza Metropolis but additionally within the “central camps” and Muwasi. A supply conversant in the operation, who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to speak to the media, confirmed to The Related Press that Israel plans it in each areas.

The camps — sheltering effectively over a half-million displaced individuals, based on the U.N. — had not been a part of Israel’s earlier announcement. It was not clear why, although Netanyahu confronted criticism this weekend inside his ruling coalition that focusing on Gaza Metropolis was not sufficient. Netanyahu mentioned there can be “safe zones,” however such designated areas have been bombed up to now. 

Albanese advised reporters after a Cupboard assembly Monday that Australia’s determination to acknowledge a Palestinian state will probably be formalized on the United Nations Normal Meeting in September. The acknowledgement was “predicated on commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority,” Albanese mentioned.

These commitments included no position for Hamas in a Palestinian authorities, demilitarization of Gaza and the holding of elections, he mentioned.

“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 mentioned.

“The situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world’s worst fears,” he mentioned. “The Israeli government continues to defy international law and deny sufficient aid, food and water to desperate people, including children.”

“Until Israeli and Palestinian statehood is permanent, peace can only be temporary,” he mentioned. “Australia will recognize the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own. We will work with the international community to make this right a reality.”

The Israel-Hamas battle, raging in Gaza because the Palestinian militant group’s assault on Israel October 7, 2023, has revived world momentum towards a Palestinian state. Forward of Albanese’s announcement, Netanyahu on Sunday criticized Australia and different European nations which have moved in that route.

“To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole … this canard, is disappointing and I think it’s actually shameful,” the Israeli chief mentioned.

Australia has designated Hamas a terrorist entity and Albanese repeated Monday his authorities’s requires the group to return Israeli hostages held since Oct. 7, 2023.

The Australian chief final week spoke to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose authority administers elements of the occupied West Financial institution, helps a two-state answer and cooperates with Israel on safety issues. Abbas has agreed to situations with Western leaders, together with Albanese, as they ready to acknowledge a Palestinian state.

“This is an opportunity to deliver self-determination for the people of Palestine in a way isolates Hamas, disarms it and drives it out of the region once and for all,” Albanese mentioned. He added that Hamas didn’t assist a two-state answer.

Practically 150 of the 193 members of the United Nations have already acknowledged Palestinian statehood, most of them many years in the past. The USA and different Western powers have held off, saying Palestinian statehood ought to be a part of a ultimate settlement resolving the decades-old Center East battle.

Recognition bulletins are largely symbolic and are rejected by Israel.

A two-state answer would see a state of Palestine created alongside Israel in most or the entire occupied West Financial institution, the war-ravaged Gaza Strip and annexed east Jerusalem, territories Israel seized within the 1967 Mideast battle that the Palestinians need for his or her state.

Albanese dismissed options Monday that the transfer was solely symbolic.

“This is a practical contribution towards building momentum,” he mentioned. “This is not Australia acting alone.”

Albanese had mentioned Australia’s determination with the leaders of Britain, France, New Zealand and Japan, he mentioned. He additionally had a “long discussion” with Netanyahu this month, he added.

In neighboring New Zealand, Overseas Minister Winston Peters mentioned Monday his authorities “will carefully weigh up its position” on recognizing a Palestinian state earlier than making a proper determination 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 mentioned in a press release.

Differing reactions to Albanese’s announcement

After Albanese’s announcement Monday, Israel’s envoy to Australia mentioned the transfer undermined Israel’s safety.

“By recognizing a Palestinian state now, Australia elevates the position of Hamas, a group it acknowledges as a terrorist organization,” 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 Government Council of the Australian Jewry Alex Ryvchin mentioned in a press release.

In the meantime, President of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Community Nasser Mashni decried Albanese’s recognition as too late and “completely meaningless” whereas the nation continues to commerce with Israel.

He advised reporters in Melbourne on Monday that the transfer would do nothing to finish the “ongoing genocide in Gaza which has been live streamed for the entire world for two years.”

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