Australia’s Prime Minister Albanese says

Australia’s Prime Minister has accused his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu of being “in refusal” because of the consequences of the Gaza war.

Anthony Albanese on Monday announced that his country would recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, following similar moves of the United Kingdom, France and Canada.

Albanese said the Israeli government’s dissatisfaction played a role in the course of saying that the Australians “want to see the murder and the cycle of stopping violence.”

Israel, under the increasing pressure to end the war in Gaza, said the recognition of the Palestinian state “awarded terrorism” and Netanyahu called the decision made by Australia and other allies “shameful”.

Netanyahu and his government are faced with increasing condemnation regarding Gaza’s hunger messages.

Five people have been killed by malnutrition in the last 24 hours, including one child, according to the Hamas Health Ministry, leading to the total number of deaths to 222 – including 101 children.

Israel denies that he has hunger in gas and accused the UN agencies of raising the borders and delivering it. The UN rejected this, stating that it was facing obstacles and delays while collecting assistance from Israeli controlled border areas.

Speaking to the Australian broadcast corporation on Tuesday, Albanese said he spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu last Thursday to inform him of Australia’s decision.

“Stopping the help we have seen, and then the loss of life we see around these points of distribution of help, where people line up in a queue for food and water lose their lives, is just completely unacceptable. And we said it,” he said.

“I spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu. He again repeated what he said publicly, which must be denied the consequences that happen for innocent people.”

Albanese has previously stated that the decision to recognize a Palestinian state was made after receiving commitments from the Palestinian power (PA), which controls parts of Israel’s occupied west coast that Hamas will not play any role in any future country

This move attracted a mixed response to Australia, with the Australian Jewish Executive Board calling it “betrayal” and some Palestinian activists say that this is not far enough.

The right leader of the opposition Susan Lei said the decision was “disrespectful” to the United States, a key Australian ally.

Earlier this month, a propalist protest attracted at least 90,000 supporters who passed through the Sydney port bridge a day after a judgment allowed the demonstration to happen.

Netanyahu said at a press conference over the weekend that it was “shame” for countries, including Australia, to recognize a Palestinian state.

“They know what they would do if right to Melbourne or right to Sydney, you had this horrific attack. I think you would at least do what we do.”

More than 61,000 people were killed as a result of Israel’s military campaign on October 7, according to Hamas Health Ministry.

Israel launched the offensive in response to the attack led by Hamas on October 7, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.