Middle East: Australia to recognize Palestinian state at UN – DW – 08/11/2025
Australia has been preparing to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN in September, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said.
Albanese called a two-state solution the best hope for ending the violence, stressing there would be "no role" for Hamas in any future Palestinian state.
This follows similar moves from other Western nations, including France and the United Kingdom, and has drawn criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who warned the "shameful" plans would bring war.Australia's neighbor New Zealand is also considering recognizing a Palestinian state, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has said.
Peters said Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's cabinet would make a formal decision in September and present the government's position during the UN Leaders' Week later that month.
"We intend to weigh up the issue carefully and then act according to New Zealand's principles, values and national interest," Peters said.
The government, he said, needed to weigh up whether sufficient progress was being made towards the Palestinian territories becoming a viable and legitimate state for New Zealand to grant recognition.
"New Zealand has been clear for some time that our recognition of a Palestinian state is a matter of when, not if," Peters added.
Australia is set to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, the country's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says.
"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," he told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
"Until Israeli and Palestinian statehood is permanent, peace can only be temporary. Australia will recognize the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own. We will work with the international community to make this right a reality," Albanese added.
The announcement follows a push from other Western countries, including the United Kingdom, France and Canada, to recognize Palestinian statehood after Israel launched its war on Gaza nearly two years ago in response to Hamas attacks.
"There is a moment of opportunity here, and Australia will work with the international community to seize it," Albanese said.
He added that Australia's decision was based on reassurances from the Palestinian Authority that there would be "no role for the terrorists of Hamas in any future Palestinian state."
The Palestinian Authority, however, does not control Gaza, which has been governed by Hamas for nearly two decades.
Following Australia's announcement, Israel's embassy in Canberra told the AFP news agency the ambassador was "unavailable" to comment.
Just hours earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized international calls to recognize Palestinian statehood, saying it would "not bring peace, it will bring war."
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Welcome to DW's coverage of Gaza, Israel and the wider Middle East on Monday, August, 11.
You join us after Australia said it would officially recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said a two-state solution is humanity's best shot at breaking the cycle of violence in the Middle East.
Follow along as DW brings you the latest reports, explainers and analysis on developments across the Middle East.
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