In a major foreign policy shift, Australia will formally recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly next month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday.
The move puts Australia at odds with its close ally, the United States, and comes amid mounting concern over Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Albanese told reporters in Canberra that a two-state solution remained “humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East” and to end the “conflict, suffering and starvation” in Gaza. He confirmed the decision followed commitments received from the Palestinian Authority, including recognition of Israel’s right to exist, a demilitarised Palestine, governance reforms, and no role for Hamas in a future Palestinian state.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong, standing alongside the prime minister, said, “We can’t keep waiting for the end of a peace process that has ground to a halt. This September, the international community has the chance to forge hope from despair.”
Context behind the decision
The announcement comes as Israel faces growing condemnation over its ongoing military campaign, which Palestinian health authorities say has killed more than 60,000 civilians since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that left 1,200 Israelis dead.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticised countries considering recognition of Palestine, calling the move “shameful.” Netanyahu’s government has recently signalled plans to militarily occupy all of Gaza, a proposal Australia’s foreign minister has warned could breach international law.
Domestic reactions and criticism
The decision has divided opinion within Australia. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry labelled it a “betrayal” and “premature,” claiming it could reward Hamas. Coalition defence spokesperson Angus Taylor echoed these concerns, while Labor Friends of Palestine welcomed the move as delivering on long-standing party policy.
Wong clarified that practical steps, such as an Australian embassy presence or granting full embassy status to the Palestinian delegation in Canberra, would depend on the Palestinian Authority’s fulfilment of its commitments. “We will help build the capacity of the Palestinian Authority and hold it to its commitments,” she said.
International momentum for recognition
Australia’s decision follows similar pledges from France, Canada, and the United Kingdom in recent weeks, reflecting growing international momentum for Palestinian statehood. Supporters argue recognition could revive stalled peace efforts, while critics warn it risks emboldening hardline groups and straining diplomatic ties with Israel.
Australia is expected to formalise its recognition at the UN summit in September. The government has stressed that the recognition is not merely symbolic but part of a “practical contribution” toward advancing peace in the region.
