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Australia will recognize a Palestinian state at next month’s United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday, a move that adds to international pressure on Israel after similar announcements from France, Britain and Canada.
“Australia will recognize the State of Palestine at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, to contribute to international momentum towards a two-state solution, a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages,” Albanese said in a statement.
Albanese told reporters in Canberra that recognition would be predicated on commitments Australia received from the Palestinian Authority, including that Islamist militant group Hamas would have no involvement in any future state.
“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 at a press conference.
Albanese said he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday and told him a political solution was needed, not a military one.
Last week, Australia criticized Israel’s plan to take military control of Gaza, and Albanese said the decision to recognize a Palestinian state was “further compelled” by Netanyahu’s disregard of the international community’s calls and failure to comply with legal and ethical obligations in Gaza.
“The Netanyahu Government is extinguishing the prospect of a two-state solution by rapidly expanding illegal settlements, threatening annexation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and explicitly opposing any Palestinian state,” Albanese said in the joint statement with Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
‘Opportunity to isolate Hamas’
Commitments by the Palestinian Authority to reform governance, demilitarize and hold general elections, as well as Arab League demands for Hamas to end its rule in Gaza, created an opportunity, he said.
“This is an opportunity to isolate Hamas,” he added.
Wong said she had informed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio of Australia’s decision.
Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Canada’s decision to back Palestinian statehood and Rubio has said the decision by France was reckless.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims escalating the war on Hamas is the fastest path to victory but says Israel is losing the information war. Protests continue to oppose his escalation in Gaza amid fears for hostages and civilians.
Israel’s Ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, criticized Australia’s decision on social media platform X as undermining Israel’s security and derailing hostage negotiations.
“By recognizing a Palestinian state now, Australia elevates the position of Hamas, a group it acknowledges as a terrorist organisation,” Maimon posted on X.
Nearly 150 of the 193 members of the United Nations have already recognized Palestinian statehood, most of them decades ago. The United States and other Western powers have held off, saying Palestinian statehood should be part of a final agreement resolving the decades-old Middle East conflict.
Recognition announcements are largely symbolic and are rejected by Israel, and by the U.S. — the only country with any real leverage over Netanyahu. Israel’s leader said this month that he would not accept Palestinian Authority involvement in a government for Palestine.
Move comes after massive protests
Last month, Albanese would not publicly commit to a timeframe for recognition, and has previously been wary of divided public opinion in Australia over Gaza.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched across Sydney’s Harbour Bridge this month calling for aid deliveries in Gaza as the humanitarian crisis worsened.
Albanese said on Monday that “massive concern” over the devastation in Gaza came not just from international leaders but community members.
Israel’s security cabinet has approved a plan by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the military occupation of Gaza City, despite growing criticism at home and abroad.
Australian National University international law professor Donald Rothwell said recognizing a Palestinian state means Australia can provide aid support without having to go through the UN and other agencies, contribute to rebuilding Gaza and enter into legally binding treaties.
Nasser Mashni, president of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, 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.”
New Zealand said it would consider its position on recognition of a Palestinian state this month.
Israel launched its assault on Gaza after Hamas-led fighters stormed Israeli towns near the border on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages. Since then, Israeli forces have killed at least 60,000 people in Gaza, health officials there say, and reduced much of the enclave to ruins.
Malnutrition is widespread in the enclave, due to what international aid agencies say is a deliberate plan by Israel to restrict aid. Israel rejects that allegation, blaming Hamas for the hunger among Palestinians and saying a lot of aid has been distributed.