Australia will formally recognise a Palestinian state at next month’s United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday. The decision follows similar moves by France, Britain and Canada, intensifying global pressure on Israel to seek a political resolution to the conflict.
Albanese said the recognition would hinge on commitments from the Palestinian Authority, including assurances that Hamas would play no role in any future Palestinian state. The pledge comes after weeks of diplomatic consultations, with the prime minister stressing that peace cannot be achieved through military means.
He revealed he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last Thursday, urging a negotiated solution over continued hostilities. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Wellington will decide within the month whether to follow suit in recognising Palestinian statehood.
