Australia to recognize the Palestinian state in September

Australia announced a plan to recognize a Palestinian state in September, following similar moves of the United Kingdom, France and Canada.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said this move would happen at the UN General Assembly and after receiving commitments from the Palestinian body.

“The decision of two countries is the best hope of humanity to interrupt the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to put an end to the conflict, suffering and fasting in Gaza,” he said on Monday.

Israel, who is under more and more pressure to end the war in Gaza, said he acknowledges the Palestinian state “awarded terrorism.”

As of Saturday, five people have been killed as a result of hunger and malnutrition in Gaza, leading the total number of 217 deaths, according to the Hamas Health Ministry.

He also said a total of over 61,000 people were killed as a result of Israel’s military campaign in 2023.

Israel began its offensive in response to an attack, led by Hamas against southern Israel on October 7 of the same year, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

The Palestinian Administration, which controls parts of the Israeli West coast, has previously stated that the recognition of statehood has shown increasing support for the self-determination of its people.

Albanese said the decision was made after his government had received commitments from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that Hamas would not play any role in any future country.

He added that his decision came after conversations with his colleagues in the UK, France, New Zealand and Japan for the past two weeks.