Australia could recognise Palestinian state within weeks, won't wait for Trump
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has faced a barrage of questions about Australia recognising Palestinian statehood after France vowed to make the move in September. The UK and Canada followed France, attaching conditions to their decisions.
Sources familiar with discussions at the top of the government, not permitted to speak publicly, said the government could make an announcement this month about the position it would take at the September UN General Assembly, where Gaza and the future of a Palestinian state will be a key focus.
Labor ministers, including Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, have said publicly that recognition was a matter of time, but the government has refused to set a date for the move and made it conditional on Israel's security and Hamas ceding control of Gaza.
When asked on Thursday if he would clear any step to recognition with Trump before making it public, Albanese brushed off the need to act in line with the US, which is Israel and Australia's top ally, saying he led a 'sovereign government' that would make decisions in the national interest.
Trump has said that Canada's move to recognise Palestine would reward Hamas and threaten the US' trade talks with its northern neighbour, but later clarified it was 'not a deal-breaker'.
Israel's war cabinet is due to decide in the early hours of Friday morning (AEST) whether to escalate its campaign in Gaza by moving into the approximately 25 per cent of the battered strip still controlled by Hamas. Israel's military chief reportedly believes the step is too risky.
Hamas still holds dozens of Israeli hostages, prolonging the conflict that began with its massacre of about 1200 people in Israel on October 7, 2023.
After weeks of images showing starvation
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