Australia to Recognize Palestinian State, Sparking Fierce Debate

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — In a significant and contentious shift in foreign policy, Australia will formally move to recognize a state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September, a decision that has been heralded as a historic step towards justice by Palestinian representatives but fiercely condemned by Israel and the domestic opposition as a dangerous reward for terrorism.

According to an extensive chain of reports from The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the move, positioning Australia alongside allies like the United Kingdom, France, and Canada in a growing international push to break the diplomatic stalemate that has defined the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades.

The Australian government’s decision, as detailed by the ABC, is predicated on specific commitments received from the Palestinian Authority, which has reportedly promised to recognize Israel's right to exist, demilitarize, hold general elections, and crucially, exclude the terror group Hamas from any role in the future governance of Palestine.

"Australia will recognise the state of Palestine. Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own, predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority," Mr. Albanese stated, framing the initiative as a critical intervention in a worsening crisis. "A two-state solution is 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."

The Prime Minister underscored the urgency of the moment, arguing that the international community could no longer afford to wait for a peace process that has effectively collapsed.

The ABC reports that he described the decades-long failure to establish both Israeli and Palestinian states as being fraught with "failures and false storms," but insisted that inaction was the greater peril. "The risk of trying is nothing compared to the danger of letting this moment pass us by," Mr. Albanese said. "The toll of the status quo is growing by the day and it could be measured in innocent lives."

This sentiment was echoed by Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who pointed out that the promise of a Palestinian state has languished for over 77 years. "In the nearly two years since [the] Oct. 7 [terror attack by Hamas], we have been working with the international community on breaking the cycle of violence," she told the ABC. "We can't keep waiting for the end of a peace process that has ground to a halt." Minister Wong asserted that "September is that time" for a meaningful contribution to peace.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation also reported on a "long" and "civil" discussion between Prime Minister Albanese and his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mr. Albanese conveyed that the arguments presented by the Israeli leader were familiar and unchanged, reinforcing his belief that a political solution, not a military one, is required. He did not mince words regarding the situation in Gaza, telling the ABC, "I have said it publicly and I said it directly to Prime Minister Netanyahu: the situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world's worst fears. Far too many innocent lives have been lost. The Israeli government continues to defy international law and deny sufficient aid, food and water to desperate people, including children. This vital aid must be allowed to get to the people who need it most."

The announcement was met with immediate and forceful condemnation from Israel.

The ABC reported that ahead of the decision, Prime Minister Netanyahu had labeled Australia and other nations considering the move as "delusional" and "shameful," insisting it would not alter Israel's position. Following the official confirmation, Israel’s Ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, issued a scathing statement asserting the decision "would not change the reality on the ground."

Ambassador @MaimonAmir’s statement regarding Australia’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state: pic.twitter.com/eyMIGRiTME

— Israel in Australia (@IsraelinOZ) August 11, 2025

In the statement, provided to the ABC, he argued, "Peace is not achieved through declarations; it is achieved when those who have chosen terror abandon it and when violence and incitement end. By recognising a Palestinian state now, Australia elevates the position of Hamas, a group it acknowledges as a terrorist organisation." Ambassador Maimon added that the move undermines Israel’s security, derails hostage negotiations, and "hands a victory to those who oppose coexistence."

This view was strongly supported by Australia's domestic political opposition. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, in a statement reported by the ABC, declared that the government’s unilateral decision puts it out of step with its "most important ally" and the most "consequential player in the Middle East, the United States." Ms. Ley emphasized that the long-standing bipartisan position had been to grant recognition at the end of a peace process, not during it.

"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," she stated. Speaking to Brisbane radio station 4BC, she called the move a "complete mess" that "rewards terrorists."

The Coalition’s Shadow Foreign Minister Michaelia Cash and Shadow Defence Minister Angus Taylor reinforced this position. In a joint statement with Ms. Ley, the opposition leaders argued the decision "risks delivering Hamas one of its strategic objectives of the horrific terrorism of Oct. 7." Mr. Taylor, speaking to reporters, elaborated on this risk, stating the government was "putting the cart before the horse" and that its idea that the move would isolate Hamas "remains to be seen."

On the other side of the political and community spectrum, the decision was welcomed. Palestine's general delegation to Australia, in a statement cited by the ABC, said the move "marks a significant step towards achieving justice" and is a "necessary foundation for a future defined by freedom, sovereignty, human dignity, and a just and lasting peace in the region." The delegation noted that while the recognition is significant, it would not inevitably change the dire situation on the ground and urged the Australian government to impose "comprehensive, government-wide" sanctions on Israel.

Within the governing Labor party, MP Ed Husic, a long-time advocate for Palestinian statehood, called the move "just and right." He also had a message for pro-Palestinian protestors, writing on social media, "To everyone who marched and wrote and wondered if they would have an impact, know your voice was heard."

The ABC also reported on the reaction from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, whose president, Daniel Aghion, described the Prime Minister's commitment as a "betrayal" of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas. "This announcement gives them no hope for release. It leaves Hamas armed and in control of territory, and in a position to regroup and rearm," Mr. Aghion said in a statement.

According to analysis from the ABC’s Middle East correspondent, Allyson Horn, the decision is unlikely to change the practical reality of the war in Gaza but will add to the international pressure on the Israeli government. For Palestinians, the move is expected to provide a sense of hope and comfort that a global shift is underway. Within Israel, the reaction is anticipated to be complex.

The ABC reports that many Israelis, still reeling from the "deep and still very raw" wounds of the Oct. 7 attacks, will feel let down and see the recognition as a reward for Hamas. However, the report also notes that peace activists inside Israel would welcome the announcement, even as some among them believe the two-state solution is no longer a credible path.

Australia's decision places it within a growing cohort of nations, including the United Kingdom, France, and Canada, who have signaled their intent to recognize Palestine at the UN, albeit with similar conditions regarding the exclusion of Hamas. New Zealand is also reportedly weighing its position.

This momentum, however, runs counter to the stance of the United States, a permanent member of the UN Security Council with veto power. The ABC notes that US President Donald Trump has said recognizing Palestine in September would be "rewarding Hamas," and the U.S. embassy confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had discussed "issues" in the Middle East with his Australian counterpart. 

With France and the UK joining the 147 of 193 UN member states that already recognize Palestine, the U.S. would be the sole permanent Security Council member not to have done so.

The path to an actual two-state solution remains fraught with what the ABC describes as "insurmountable" hurdles. Prime Minister Netanyahu remains steadfast in his opposition to Palestinian statehood, and just days ago approved a major escalation of the war with the takeover of Gaza City.

On the Palestinian side, Hamas has refused to relinquish control of Gaza or disarm until a state is recognized. Despite these immense challenges, Prime Minister Albanese concluded with a call to action, insisting the world must seize the opportunity. "There is a moment of truth here," he stated, as reported by the ABC, "and Australia will work with the international community to seize it."