Australia's commitment to recognise Palestine met with 'disappointment and disgust' by Trump administration
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee told 7.30 he discussed Australia's decision with US President Donald Trump.
"There's an enormous level of disappointment and some disgust," Ambassador Huckabee said.
"I don't know that the president used that word, [but] I would say that is a characterisation of a sentiment.
Ambassador Huckabee also said Australia's timing was "terrible".
"I think the timing has been very hurtful to any prospects of negotiating some settlement in Gaza with Hamas … this is a gift to them, and it's unfortunate," he said.
The ambassador continued his critique of the Albanese government's decision, saying it would have a direct impact on the remaining hostages of Hamas.
"For this to come at a time like this, further endangering them and endangering any hopes of some peaceful resolution of dealing with Hamas and getting them to lay down their arms," he said.
Australia followed similar commitments to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, that were made by France, Canada and the UK.
"As Israel's closest partner, we would have expected that there would have been some heads up," he said.
On 7.30 this week, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she had spoken to the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the government's intentions.
"As a matter of courtesy, I did want to give him advance notice of our announcement," Ms Wong said.
Earlier in the week, Minister Wong warned there would be "no Palestine left" to recognise if the world did not act.
Asked about Senator Wong's comments, Mr Huckabee claimed Australia's decision could inadvertently push Israel towards annexation of the West Bank.
However, in July, the Israeli Knesset passed a non-binding motion calling for the annexation of the West Bank.
On Thursday, multiple outlets reported that Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened an expansion of settlements outside Jerusalem.
"Those who try to recognise a Palestinian state will receive from us an answer on the ground … and ensure that by September the hypocritical leaders in Europe will have nothing to recognise," he said.
Pressed on whether the Trump administration should have sought to influence Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conduct of the war in Gaza, the ambassador said: "I guess if we wanted to tell them what to do we would, but we respect the fact they were attacked on October 7."
On Wednesday, the total number of hunger-related deaths since the war began in October 2023 rose to 235, among them 106 children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Asked about Mr Trump's recent comments expressing discomfort at images of malnourished children, Mr Huckabee said Mr Trump had done "more than anyone else" to stop starvation.
"He was the one who authorised us to create the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) to start feeding people … get food to people who are hungry to give it to them in a way where Hamas cannot steal it," he said
Since the GHF has been operating in Gaza, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid, according to the UN.
The UN also says 500,000 people are facing famine and every child under five is at risk of acute malnutrition.
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