Australia has announced that it will recognise the state of Palestine, in a fresh blow to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after he revealed plans to fully occupy Gaza.
Alongside the UK and France, which have both stated intentions to recognise Palestine, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed on Tuesday that his country will follow suit in a matter of weeks.
This move is unlikely to be consequence-free, with Israel warning Sir Keir Starmer that recognising Palestine could lead to the end of its security relationship with the UK.
Albanese said at a press conference following a full cabinet meeting: “Today I can confirm that at the 80th session of the United Nations general assembly in September, Australia will recognise the state of Palestine.”
147 of the 193 UN member states already recognise Palestine as a country, something Israel’s Western allies have long resisted.
Albanese continued to say: “Australia will recognise the right of 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.”
The Australian PM also stated that he had discussed the decision with international partners before bringing it to his cabinet. The Australian leader said he had spoken to Starmer about the plan, as well as Netanyahu.
Just days ago, Netanyahu said that any such recognition of Palestinian statehood by Australia would be “shameful,” while at the same time announcing a full-scale occupation of Gaza to international condemnation – including at the UN Security Council on Sunday, which slammed the plan.
But the Australian Labor leader and Prime Minister has recently levelled both barrels of criticism over the devastation in Gaza at Netanyahu, saying in a joint statement with the New Zealand Prime Minister that Israel’s stated intent to occupy Gaza could make the human suffering worse.
Albanese said: “Any attempt by Israel to escalate hostilities, including by taking control of Gaza City, would be wrong, risk violating international law, and exacerbate the human catastrophe already unfolding inside the Gaza Strip.”
