Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, announced on August 10, 2025, that Australia will formally recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly next month. This historic decision aligns Australia with several allied nations including France, Britain, and Canada and marks a significant shift in Canberra’s long-held foreign policy.
Recognition Palestinian Authority to Demilitarize Gaza and Exclude Hamas
Albanese emphasized that the recognition is conditional, based on prior commitments made by the Palestinian Authority . These include excluding Hamas from any future government, ensuring the demilitarization of Gaza, and holding free and fair elections. He described this step not as symbolic, but as a practical move to build momentum for a two-state solution, which he called humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East.
Albanese’s announcement follows weeks of internal cabinet pressure and widespread public concern over the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which he termed a “humanitarian catastrophe.”
There was mounting criticism of Israel’s military actions and reduced aid access in the region, prompting Canberra to take a firmer stand.
Netanyahu Condemns Australia’s Palestine Recognition as Shameful
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly criticized Australia’s move, calling it shameful and warning it could undermine peace prospects. In response, Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Albanese reaffirmed the country’s two-state solution commitment and stressed that recognition would support peace-building and not hinder it.
Australia’s recognition of Palestine marks a milestone in a decades-long foreign policy evolution. The country was among the first to endorse a two-state vision back in 1947 by supporting UN Resolution 181, which proposed both Jewish and Arab states. Over the years, Canberra maintained support for Israel’s existence while avoiding full recognition of Palestine until now, when the humanitarian crisis and regional diplomacy moved the needle.
New Zealand May Follow Australia’s Lead with Statehood Recognition
Australia’s recognition adds momentum to an emerging international trend. Prime Minister Albanese noted this collective effort while emphasizing that coordinated action is vital. New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, reacted positively and suggested that his government would consider recognition soon, saying it’s a matter of when, not if.
Australia’s upcoming recognition of a Palestinian state therefore represents a bold reassertion of the two-state solution as a pragmatic path toward Middle East peace. Moreover, by linking recognition to serious governance and security commitments, Canberra aims to isolate Hamas, while also supporting democratic reform.
In addition, this approach seeks to respond to the growing urgency created by the crisis in Gaza, ultimately positioning Australia as a proactive player in shaping a sustainable resolution.
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