Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia will recognise a Palestinian state, joining the leaders of France, Britain and Canada in signalling they would do so.
This comes after weeks of urging from within his Cabinet and from many in Australia to recognise a Palestinian state and during growing criticism from officials in his government over suffering and starvation in Gaza.
Australia’s government has also criticised plans announced in recent days by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a fresh, sweeping military offensive in Gaza.
Albanese disclosed after a Cabinet meeting on Monday that Australia’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state will be formalised at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Those commitments included no role for Hamas in a Palestinian government, demilitarisation of Gaza and the holding of elections, he said.
Albanese had publicly said to Netanyahu that the “situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world’s worst fears.”