The Australian government will recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations general assembly next month, with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, saying a two-state solution was “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”.
But what does recognising Palestinian statehood mean, and will it do anything to help civilians starving or facing violence in Gaza?
Why is Australia recognising Palestinian statehood?
Albanese said Australia believed a two-state solution in the Middle East – that is, recognising both an Israeli and a Palestinian state – was vital to ending the war, and Australia’s move was “part of a coordinated global effort”.
“Until Israeli and Palestinian statehood is permanent, peace can only be temporary,” Albanese said.
More than 60,000 civilians have been killed during Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza, local health authorities report, after the 7 October 2023 terror attack by Hamas where 1,200 Israelis were killed and dozens taken hostage.
Australian allies including the United Kingdom, Canada and France have recently announced pledges to recognise Palestine.
Albanese and the foreign minister, Penny Wong, pointed to reforms promised by the Palestinian Authority, which administers part of the West Bank territory, and demands from the Arab League of Middle Eastern nations, for Hamas to end its rule in Gaza.
Albanese and Wong said “these factors mean that this is the best opportunity Australia may ever have to support moderate voices for peace in the region, to undermine extremism and to further isolate Hamas. This is the movement to which Australia and so many countries are seeking to add momentum.”
At a press conference, Albanese said: “The international community’s vision for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East always encompassed two states living side by side with internationally recognised borders, a State of Israel and a State of Palestine with security for the people of both nations.”
Anne Aly, the minister for multicultural affairs and Australia’s first Muslim woman in cabinet, said a “circuit breaker” was required to end the war in Gaza and protect civilians, and believed the global push toward Palestinian statehood would have an impact on Israel’s conduct.
How many other countries recognise Palestine?
Lots. The United Nations said in June 2024 that a Palestinian state was recognised by 146 UN member states at the time – around three-quarters of UN membership.
That list has grown in recent weeks as key Australian allies including the United Kingdom, Canada and France announced their own pledges to recognise Palestine.
What does it mean to recognise statehood?
At the moment, it’s not clear what immediate changes will follow.
Wong said practical steps, such as an Australian embassy presence or conferring full embassy status to the Palestinian delegation to Australia, would be tied to commitments from the Palestinian Authority. She conceded there was “much more work to do in building a Palestinian state”, and that the international community would “help build the capacity of the Palestinian Authority”.
Wong said the growing global push toward a Palestinian state was a “chance to forge hope from despair”.
Albanese said it was “an opportunity to isolate Hamas”.
What are the conditions of Australia recognising Palestine?
Albanese has had discussions with Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority. While that group has influence in the West Bank, the other Palestinian territory, Hamas has been the governing body in Gaza. Albanese said Abbas had made pledges about the future of a Palestinian state, including:
A demilitarised Palestine.
Recognising Israel’s right to exist in peace and security.
Holding elections and undertaking governance reforms.
No role for terror group Hamas in a future Palestinian state.
He also said the government wanted Israeli hostages released.
However critics of the decision, including Jewish-Australian groups and the Coalition, said the government had not outlined what it would do if those conditions were not met.
Wong wouldn’t specifically answer on that point, but said the international community would hold the Palestinian Authority to account, and that there was a focus on “progress” on the commitments.
What have Palestinian groups said?
The General Delegation of Palestine to Australia, the equivalent of the Palestinian embassy, welcomed the announcement, calling it a “principled decision” which would contribute to peace in the region.
The delegation added that while it was a “vital starting point”, recognition alone “will do nothing to change or alleviate the unbearable human suffering of our people on the ground in Gaza unless accompanied by concrete actions to protect Palestinian civilians and human dignity, and to ensure the full and equal application of international law”.
The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network called it a “political fig leaf” which would do little to stop the war in Gaza or address Israel’s military campaign.
“Palestinian rights are not to be gifted by western states. They are not dependent on negotiation with or behaviour or approval of their colonial oppressors. Nor are they the crumbs to be thrown to Palestinians by Western states in lieu of taking the real action they are legally bound to take,” said APAN’s Nasser Mashni.
Mashni also called on Australia to impose country-level sanctions on Israel and extend existing sanctions on two Israeli ministers to all members of Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet.
Labor Friends of Palestine, the internal campaign group of rank-and-file members, welcomed the decision but said the Australian public were still “demanding more than words”. They urged the government to impose sanctions on more members of Netanyahu’s government, put more aid and mobile hospitals into Gaza, and a humanitarian visa pathway for Palestinians.
What have critics said?
Hours before the decision, Netanyahu said Australia and European nations were “shameful” for considering recognising a Palestinian state. He called such moves a “rabbit hole” and “canard”.
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) called the government’s decision a “betrayal” and a “disappointment”. Its president Daniel Aghion said the government had not confirmed what it would do if Israeli hostages were not returned, and that Israel “will feel wronged and abandoned by a longstanding ally”.
“This commitment removes any incentive or diplomatic pressure for the Palestinians to do the things that have always stood in the way of ending the conflict,” he said.
The Coalition said it had “serious concerns” about the decision. The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, was critical that Australia was “at odds with the United States”.
“Despite his words today the reality is Anthony Albanese has committed Australia to recognising Palestine while hostages remain in tunnels under Gaza and with Hamas still in control of the population of Gaza. Nothing he has said today changes that fact,” Ley and the foreign affairs spokesperson, Michaelia Cash, said.
“As it stands today the decision by the Albanese government does not appear to make the world a safer place, expedite the end of the conflict, deliver a two-state solution, see the free flow of aid, support the release of hostages or put an end to the terrorist group Hamas.”
