Australia to recognise Palestinian State in September

Australia will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, joining France, the UK, and Canada, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared, according to Middle East Eye via Reuters on August 11th.

Albanese told reporters the recognition was contingent on commitments from the Palestinian Authority, including the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip, no role for Hamas in a future Palestinian state, and the holding of elections for the Palestinian government.

“Ever since the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas on the 7th of October 2023, Australia has stood with the people of Israel and our partners and allies around the world in calling for the release of the hostages,” the statement said. Albanese added: “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 stated: “The situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world’s worst fears … The Israeli government continues to defy international law and deny sufficient aid, food, and water to desperate people, including children. This vital aid must be allowed to get to the people who need it most.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced Australia and other countries on August 10th for their recent efforts to recognise a Palestinian state, calling the decisions “disappointing” and “actually shameful.”

He argued that Australia’s criticism of Israel’s actions was hypocritical. He said: “They know what they would do if, right next to Melbourne or right next to Sydney, you had this horrific attack. I think you would do at least what we’re doing.”

However, Australia’s prime minister still condemned Hamas and its objection to the existence of Israel, saying that “this is an opportunity to deliver self-determination for the people of Palestine in a way [that] isolates Hamas, disarms it and drives it out of the region once and for all”. Hamas reiterated that it will not lay down its arms until a Palestinian state is recognised, following Israel’s push for the group to disarm and its continued opposition to a Palestinian state. 

Albanese previously spoke with the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, who is in agreement with conditions with Western states, which amount to preconditions for recognition of a state. 

Australia is “part of a coordinated global effort, building momentum for a two-state solution”, as the prime minister stated, with France, the UK and Canada all making similar announcements later in July 2025. 

French president Emmanuel Macron became the first of recent world leaders to recognise a Palestinian state, announcing the move on July 24th. 

The Prime Minister of the UK Keir Starmer said his country’s recognition of a Palestinian state was conditional on Israel taking “substantive steps,” including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza.

Roughly 150 UN member states now recognise Palestine as a state, with Spain, Norway, Ireland, and Slovenia joining the list in 2024.

Middle East Eye via Reuters, Maghrebi.org, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)