The Albanese Government Announced Australia Would Recognise the State of Palestine

On Monday morning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Australia will recognise a Palestinian state when the UN reconvenes in September.

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This follows similar announcements from Britain, Canada and France within the last month, adding to the 147 UN member states that recognise the state of Palestine. 

The Albanese government supported a two-state solution as the path out of the ongoing devastation of Palestine by the Israeli military. 

“A two-state solution is humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East,” Albanese said. 

This solution to the crisis was proposed by the UN in 1947 to resolve rising political tension in the area following an increase in Jewish immigration from Europe. 

But since 1947 there have been repeated instances of war between Israel and Palestine in which Israel has occupied and threatened annexation of Palestinian territories. 

Following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 2023, the Israeli defence force began a large-scale assault on the Gaza strip that has caused mass destruction and civilian casualties, this assault has been condemned by humanitarian organisations including the UN.

At the UN’s emergency security council meeting which occurred over last weekend Head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Ramesh Rajasingham said that Israel has “inflicted unimaginable suffering” and calls for the end to the military assault on Gaza. 

The move by the Albanese government to recognise a Palestinian state, meant recognition of Palestine as able to self-govern and would provide potential for diplomatic agreements to be made between Australia and Palestine. 

The Labor government’s decision to recognise statehood has been met with mixed reactions across Australia’s political parties.

In response to Albanese’s announcement leader of the opposition Sussan Ley took to Instagram disagreeing with the decision. 

“This decision at this time puts Australia at odds with the United States of America, our most important ally, and the most consequential player in the conflict in Gaza,” she said.

The US government has not recognised the state of Palestine and supports Israel in their plan to take control of the Gaza strip. 

The Coalition had additionally announced they will revoke recognition of statehood if they win the next federal election in 2028.

The Greens agree with the decision to recognise the state of Palestine but have said they do not believe it is not the only step the Labor government should make.

They believe the recognition “must be accompanied by sanctions and ending the two-way arms trade with Israel.”

The Albanese government called for the release of hostages by Hamas and a ceasefire between nations. 

“This is about much more than drawing a line on a map - this is about delivering a lifeline to the people of Gaza,” Albanese said.