Australia to recognize Palestinian state
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday that Australia will officially recognize a Palestinian state, joining growing international momentum behind the move.
The decision is set to be formalized during the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Albanese made the announcement following a Cabinet meeting, amid rising pressure from within his government and widespread calls across Australia to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. His government has recently voiced strong criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans for a renewed military offensive in the region.
The recognition, Albanese said, is contingent on key commitments from the Palestinian Authority, including excluding Hamas from any future government, demilitarizing Gaza, and holding democratic 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,” Albanese said.
Australia now joins the leaders of France, Britain, and Canada in signaling support for Palestinian statehood, as international frustration grows over the prolonged conflict and humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
