Published 11/08/2025 14:49 | Edited 11/08/2025 15:07
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday that the country will officially recognize the Palestinian state during the 80th UN General Assembly session in September in New York.
The decision adds to recent announcements in France, the United Kingdom and Canada and occurs amid increased international pressure on Israel to end the massacre to the Gaza Strip and resume the diplomatic path.
Recognition will be conditioned to commitments made by the Palestinian Authority (AP), including demilitarization, general elections and maintaining recognition of Israel’s right to exist.
“A two -state solution is the best hope of humanity to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and end the conflict, suffering and hunger in Gaza,” said Albanese.
New Zealand is expected to decide next month if the same path will go, according to its Foreign Minister Winston Peters.
The Australian head of government stated that the decision was “even more driven” by the disrespect of Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to the calls of the international community and the breach of legal and ethical obligations in Gaza.
In a joint statement with Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Albanese accused the Israeli government of rapidly expanding illegal settlements, threatening occupied Palestinian territories, and explicitly opposing the creation of a Palestinian state.
He also revealed that he said directly to Netanyahu, in a conversation on August 7, that the departure to the conflict must be political rather than military. Last week, Australia publicly criticized the Israeli plan to assume the military control of Gaza, the target of condemnation of UN ambassadors.
The liberal opposition party accused Albanese of “delivering a strategic victory to Hamas” by recognizing Palestine before the return of hostages and the group’s defeat.
Already the Australian green supported the decision, but stated that it does not respond to the “overwhelming appeals of the population” for sanctions and the end of the arms trade with Israel.
The Australian Palestinian Defense Network (APAN) was harder, calling the gesture of “Figueiro Figueira” that covers Australian complicity in Israel’s war crimes for maintaining the military and military components trade.
The announcement was made a few days after a massive protest that took about 300,000 people to the Sydney Bay Bridge to demand ceasefire and humanitarian aid to Gaza. Since the beginning of the Israeli offensive in 2023, more than 61,400 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Ministry of Health controlled by Hamas.
Almost 200 people, including 96 children, starved to starve under Israeli military siege. Currently, 147 of the 193 UN member countries recognize Palestine as a state, representing three quarters of the world’s nations and the majority of the global population.
Source: vermelho.org.br
