Australia to recognise Palestine at UNGA
Pressure has been mounting on the Prime Minister to do so, despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issuing a dire warning against any change.
'Today, I can confirm that at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, Australia will recognise the state of Palestine,' Mr Albanese said on Monday afternoon.
'Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority.
'We will work with the international community to make this right a reality.'
Mr Albanese said the two-state solution was '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.'
The Prime Minister's announcement comes after France, the UK and Canada all conditionally pledged to formally recognise Palestine at the UN General Assembly next month.
Earlier on Monday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong spoke with US counterpart Marco Rubio.
A readout put out by the US Embassy said they discussed 'issues in the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East, along with global efforts to combat antisemitism'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
9 minutes ago
- ABC News
Australian recognition of Palestinian state has been decades in the making
You need only look to the windows overlooking the prime minister's courtyard to know Australia was about to mark a milestone moment. Minutes after media had been summoned for a 1pm press conference, the nation's most senior public servant, Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Steven Kennedy, peered out a ground floor window, looking across at two empty podia displaying the Australian coat of arms. Across the courtyard, cabinet minister Anne Aly smiled as she looked out her first floor ministerial window. The staff in windows only grew when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong took their places. They snapped photos as Albanese and Wong made a declaration that's been decades in the making. "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 as he confirmed Australia would recognise a Palestinian state at a United Nations meeting next month. In making the pledge, it brings Australia into alignment with the United Kingdom, Canada and France, allies who have all pledged recognition as the world seeks a circuit breaker for the death and disaster in Gaza. "The situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world's worst fears," Albanese said. "Far too many innocent lives have been lost." In recent weeks, Albanese has discussed recognition with leaders of the UK, France, New Zealand and Japan. He spoke with the head of the Palastinian Authority last week and confirmed today he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last Thursday. Recognition won't come without strings but few view this as an egg that can be unscrambled. At least for Labor. Albanese said the Palestinian Authority had agreed to Australia's conditions of recognition, which include Palestine recognising Israel's right to exist, that it will demilitarise, that elections are held and Hamas have no role in a future government. "I understand that on this issue, history casts a long shadow," Albanese said. "Every generation has known failures and false dawns. Yet, the story of this struggle is also one of opportunities not taken." The Israel-Gaza conflict has contorted Australia's political class in the almost two years since Hamas launched its deadly terror attacks. Public sentiment too has changed as the war has dragged on. "Australians, people around the world, have been haunted by the images," Wong said. "We have always said that Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas. But a whole population has been shattered." The opposition supports a two-state solution but argues now is not the time to recognise Palestine. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, a former leader of the Parliamentary Friends of Palestine group, was once a fierce supporter of statehood but argues the "hideous events of October 7" have changed her thinking. Ley insists she remains a friend of Palestinian people but recognition can not occur until Hamas surrenders. Writing with Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Michaelia Cash, they said while Australians want the war to end, Australia's decision would do little to achieve that. "Recognising a Palestinian state prior to a return of the hostages and defeat of Hamas, as the government has today, risks delivering Hamas one of its strategic objectives of the horrific terrorism of October 7," they said. Wong noted its been more than seven decades since the world pledged a Palestinian state. It's also been seven years since she started shaping Labor's policies, inching her party towards today's declaration. In late 2018, Wong landed a cross-factional agreement that saw Right faction heavyweight Tony Burke second her push at a Labor conference to call on the next Labor government to recognise Palestine as a matter of priority. That policy was etched into the national platform in 2021 and reaffirmed in 2023. In government though, Wong and Albanese have been far more cautious than some of their colleagues might have liked, seeking to ensure every step forward was done on solid ground. To their critics, they've been too slow. But Wong and Albanese have been acutely aware that this moment would be so much bigger than internal party politics. They've sought to take the non-political public with them on this journey, telegraphing well in advance where the train was headed. Their pace has hastened in recent weeks as allies moved and Wong's fears grew that there could soon be no Palestine left to recognise. It was a year after Labor's 2022 election win before the foreign minister started making her first moves. Addressing Labor's party room in the August before Hamas launched its terror attacks, Wong said the government wanted to strengthen its objection to settlements in the West Bank "by affirming that they are illegal under international law and a significant obstacle to peace". The government re-adopted the term Occupied Palestinian Territories, which Wong argued was consistent with other countries and the United Nations. Wong took her biggest steps towards support for Palestinian statehood when she announced Australia would be willing to recognise Palestine as a way to deliver peace in the Middle East. It marked the biggest shift in bi-partisanship in pursuit of a two-state solution. Both parties still support the outcome, but differ on how to deliver it. Labor argues recognition can lead to peace, while the Coalition maintains recognition can only come after peace is achieved. Wong and Albanese have been at pains to insist Australia isn't a big player in the Middle East. They have wanted to lower the temperature of the debate, to work with allies and speak with one voice when the moment came for Australia to recognise a state of Palestine. In the end, that call came about in the most quintessential Australian way possible. With Albanese and Wong speaking, their words were often drowned out by the sounds of a Parliament House lawnmower. Those at the press conference leaned in, eager to hear the words the softly spoken Wong was offering. Being heard over a lawnmower is one thing. Being heard around the world is another.
Perth Now
9 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Stronger Gaza rhetoric ahead of Palestine recognition
Prime Anthony Albanese has announced Australia will formally recognise Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The recognition of statehood comes after increasingly stronger language by the federal government against Israel for blocking aid and breaching international law since the war started on October 7, 2023, after designated terror group Hamas launched an attack on Israel. PALESTINE * October 26, 2023: "We continue to support Palestinian aspirations for a state of their own and consider a two-state solution". * January 16, 2025: "We hope (a ceasefire) will allow the Palestinian people the opportunity to rebuild, reform their governance and pursue self-determination". * July 25, 2025: "The reason a two-state solution remains the goal of the international community is because a just and lasting peace depends upon it". * July 31, 2025: "Recognition of the state of Palestine is a matter of when - not if". * August 4, 2025: "Everybody understands that there is a risk that there will be no Palestine left to recognise unless the international community work together towards two states". * August 11, 2025: "Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority". AID * December 13, 2023: "Safe and unimpeded humanitarian access must be increased and sustained". * July 26, 2024: "Sustained increase in the flow of assistance throughout Gaza is needed to address the humanitarian situation". * July 25, 2025: "Israel's denial of aid and the killing of civilians, including children, seeking access to water and food cannot be defended or ignored". * July 27, 2025: "Quite clearly it is a breach of international law to stop food being delivered, which was a decision that Israel made in March. It's a breach of decent humanity and of morality, and everyone can see that." CIVILIANS * October 26, 2023: "We are concerned at the humanitarian situation in Gaza and call on all actors to ensure the provision of humanitarian supplies to populations in need". * December 13, 2023: "Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected ... the price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of all Palestinian civilians". * February 15, 2024: "With the humanitarian situation in Gaza already dire, the impacts on Palestinian civilians from an expanded military operation would be devastating. We urge Israel not to go down this path". * July 26, 2024: "The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue". * July 25, 2025: "Every innocent life matters. Every Israeli. Every Palestinian". * August 11, 2025: "The situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world's worst fears. Far too many innocent lives have been lost." CEASEFIRE * October 26, 2023: "We call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages". * December 13, 2023: "Support urgent international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire ... Hamas must release all hostages, stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields and lay down its arms". *January 16, 2025: "Australia welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire and hostage agreement in Gaza ... We urge all parties to respect its terms and safeguard a lasting peace". * July 25, 2025: "An immediate ceasefire is needed desperately". * August 11, 2025: "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".
The Advertiser
39 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
'Humanity's best hope': Australia recognises Palestine
Australia will formally recognise a Palestinian state in a historic diplomatic shift that aims to "break the cycle of violence" in the Middle East. Anthony Albanese has announced Australia will join allies such as France, the UK and Canada and recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September. "Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own, predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority," the prime minister told reporters in Canberra on Monday. "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." The prime minister said Palestinian recognition was part of international efforts to resolve the conflict in the Middle East. "This is a practical contribution towards building momentum. This is not Australia acting alone," he said. "An end (to the conflict) can only be secured when both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security." Any recognition would need to guarantee that the designated terror group Hamas, which de facto governs Gaza, played no role in its future government, the prime minister said. Mr Albanese also revealed he spoke on Thursday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the situation in Gaza had gone "beyond the world's worst fears" and urged for a political solution to the conflict. Ahead of the announcement, Mr Netanyahu said the stances taken by Australia and other nations on Palestine were "shameful" and warned it would not create peace in the Middle East. Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed she spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about Australia's intention to recognise Palestine before the decision was formally announced. The federal government has been under increasing pressure to do more in relation to the Middle East, after images of emaciated children poured out of the Gaza Strip. At least 90,000 protesters marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in early August, alongside thousands more in other Australian capitals, urging the government to sanction Israel. The prime minister said the international community had to act. "This is about much more than drawing a line on a map. This is about delivering a lifeline to the people of Gaza," he said. "The toll of the status quo is growing by the day, and it can be measured in innocent lives. The world cannot wait for success to be guaranteed." But Palestinian recognition could be used as a "veneer" that allows Israel to "continue brutalising Palestinians with no consequences", Australia Palestine Advocacy Network's president Nasser Mashni warned. The Palestine Action Group said the move by the government was only symbolic and would not address issues on the ground in Gaza. "Recognition without sanctions is an empty gesture. It will not stop the bombs, the siege, or the starvation. It will not save lives," a spokesman said. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor said the recognition was premature. "This is a reward to Hamas for what they started on October 7 … if you start going down this path, I think Hamas will be very pleased with their work, and that's exactly the opposite of what we want to see," he told Sky News. Greens senator David Shoebridge said the recognition was overdue, but should also include sanctions on Israel. The crisis in Gaza began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking about 250 more hostage. Israel's response has since killed more than 61,000 people, according to Gaza's health authorities, and UN sources project more than two million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity. Israel has denied that the population is suffering or dying from starvation despite international human rights groups condemning its offensive. Australia will formally recognise a Palestinian state in a historic diplomatic shift that aims to "break the cycle of violence" in the Middle East. Anthony Albanese has announced Australia will join allies such as France, the UK and Canada and recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September. "Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own, predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority," the prime minister told reporters in Canberra on Monday. "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." The prime minister said Palestinian recognition was part of international efforts to resolve the conflict in the Middle East. "This is a practical contribution towards building momentum. This is not Australia acting alone," he said. "An end (to the conflict) can only be secured when both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security." Any recognition would need to guarantee that the designated terror group Hamas, which de facto governs Gaza, played no role in its future government, the prime minister said. Mr Albanese also revealed he spoke on Thursday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the situation in Gaza had gone "beyond the world's worst fears" and urged for a political solution to the conflict. Ahead of the announcement, Mr Netanyahu said the stances taken by Australia and other nations on Palestine were "shameful" and warned it would not create peace in the Middle East. Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed she spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about Australia's intention to recognise Palestine before the decision was formally announced. The federal government has been under increasing pressure to do more in relation to the Middle East, after images of emaciated children poured out of the Gaza Strip. At least 90,000 protesters marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in early August, alongside thousands more in other Australian capitals, urging the government to sanction Israel. The prime minister said the international community had to act. "This is about much more than drawing a line on a map. This is about delivering a lifeline to the people of Gaza," he said. "The toll of the status quo is growing by the day, and it can be measured in innocent lives. The world cannot wait for success to be guaranteed." But Palestinian recognition could be used as a "veneer" that allows Israel to "continue brutalising Palestinians with no consequences", Australia Palestine Advocacy Network's president Nasser Mashni warned. The Palestine Action Group said the move by the government was only symbolic and would not address issues on the ground in Gaza. "Recognition without sanctions is an empty gesture. It will not stop the bombs, the siege, or the starvation. It will not save lives," a spokesman said. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor said the recognition was premature. "This is a reward to Hamas for what they started on October 7 … if you start going down this path, I think Hamas will be very pleased with their work, and that's exactly the opposite of what we want to see," he told Sky News. Greens senator David Shoebridge said the recognition was overdue, but should also include sanctions on Israel. The crisis in Gaza began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking about 250 more hostage. Israel's response has since killed more than 61,000 people, according to Gaza's health authorities, and UN sources project more than two million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity. Israel has denied that the population is suffering or dying from starvation despite international human rights groups condemning its offensive. Australia will formally recognise a Palestinian state in a historic diplomatic shift that aims to "break the cycle of violence" in the Middle East. Anthony Albanese has announced Australia will join allies such as France, the UK and Canada and recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September. "Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own, predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority," the prime minister told reporters in Canberra on Monday. "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." The prime minister said Palestinian recognition was part of international efforts to resolve the conflict in the Middle East. "This is a practical contribution towards building momentum. This is not Australia acting alone," he said. "An end (to the conflict) can only be secured when both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security." Any recognition would need to guarantee that the designated terror group Hamas, which de facto governs Gaza, played no role in its future government, the prime minister said. Mr Albanese also revealed he spoke on Thursday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the situation in Gaza had gone "beyond the world's worst fears" and urged for a political solution to the conflict. Ahead of the announcement, Mr Netanyahu said the stances taken by Australia and other nations on Palestine were "shameful" and warned it would not create peace in the Middle East. Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed she spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about Australia's intention to recognise Palestine before the decision was formally announced. The federal government has been under increasing pressure to do more in relation to the Middle East, after images of emaciated children poured out of the Gaza Strip. At least 90,000 protesters marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in early August, alongside thousands more in other Australian capitals, urging the government to sanction Israel. The prime minister said the international community had to act. "This is about much more than drawing a line on a map. This is about delivering a lifeline to the people of Gaza," he said. "The toll of the status quo is growing by the day, and it can be measured in innocent lives. The world cannot wait for success to be guaranteed." But Palestinian recognition could be used as a "veneer" that allows Israel to "continue brutalising Palestinians with no consequences", Australia Palestine Advocacy Network's president Nasser Mashni warned. The Palestine Action Group said the move by the government was only symbolic and would not address issues on the ground in Gaza. "Recognition without sanctions is an empty gesture. It will not stop the bombs, the siege, or the starvation. It will not save lives," a spokesman said. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor said the recognition was premature. "This is a reward to Hamas for what they started on October 7 … if you start going down this path, I think Hamas will be very pleased with their work, and that's exactly the opposite of what we want to see," he told Sky News. Greens senator David Shoebridge said the recognition was overdue, but should also include sanctions on Israel. The crisis in Gaza began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking about 250 more hostage. Israel's response has since killed more than 61,000 people, according to Gaza's health authorities, and UN sources project more than two million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity. Israel has denied that the population is suffering or dying from starvation despite international human rights groups condemning its offensive. Australia will formally recognise a Palestinian state in a historic diplomatic shift that aims to "break the cycle of violence" in the Middle East. Anthony Albanese has announced Australia will join allies such as France, the UK and Canada and recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September. "Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own, predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority," the prime minister told reporters in Canberra on Monday. "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." The prime minister said Palestinian recognition was part of international efforts to resolve the conflict in the Middle East. "This is a practical contribution towards building momentum. This is not Australia acting alone," he said. "An end (to the conflict) can only be secured when both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security." Any recognition would need to guarantee that the designated terror group Hamas, which de facto governs Gaza, played no role in its future government, the prime minister said. Mr Albanese also revealed he spoke on Thursday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the situation in Gaza had gone "beyond the world's worst fears" and urged for a political solution to the conflict. Ahead of the announcement, Mr Netanyahu said the stances taken by Australia and other nations on Palestine were "shameful" and warned it would not create peace in the Middle East. Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed she spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about Australia's intention to recognise Palestine before the decision was formally announced. The federal government has been under increasing pressure to do more in relation to the Middle East, after images of emaciated children poured out of the Gaza Strip. At least 90,000 protesters marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in early August, alongside thousands more in other Australian capitals, urging the government to sanction Israel. The prime minister said the international community had to act. "This is about much more than drawing a line on a map. This is about delivering a lifeline to the people of Gaza," he said. "The toll of the status quo is growing by the day, and it can be measured in innocent lives. The world cannot wait for success to be guaranteed." But Palestinian recognition could be used as a "veneer" that allows Israel to "continue brutalising Palestinians with no consequences", Australia Palestine Advocacy Network's president Nasser Mashni warned. The Palestine Action Group said the move by the government was only symbolic and would not address issues on the ground in Gaza. "Recognition without sanctions is an empty gesture. It will not stop the bombs, the siege, or the starvation. It will not save lives," a spokesman said. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor said the recognition was premature. "This is a reward to Hamas for what they started on October 7 … if you start going down this path, I think Hamas will be very pleased with their work, and that's exactly the opposite of what we want to see," he told Sky News. Greens senator David Shoebridge said the recognition was overdue, but should also include sanctions on Israel. The crisis in Gaza began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking about 250 more hostage. Israel's response has since killed more than 61,000 people, according to Gaza's health authorities, and UN sources project more than two million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity. Israel has denied that the population is suffering or dying from starvation despite international human rights groups condemning its offensive.
