The Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, has officially announced Australia’s intention to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly, which will take place from September 10 to September 24, 2025, in New York City.
This marks a significant shift in Australia’s foreign policy and aligns it with countries like France, the UK, and Canada, which have also recently signalled similar intentions.
After a cabinet meeting on Monday, PM Albanese said that the decision by his government was informed by the suffering of the people of Gaza and the desire to see an end to it.
“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 recognition is conditional on commitments from the Palestinian Authority, including:
- No role for Hamas in any future Palestinian government.
- Demilitarisation of Gaza.
- Holding of democratic elections by the Palestinian Authority
Australia joins countries like France, Ireland, Spain, and Norway in supporting recognition, with New Zealand also considering recognition by September.
147 of the 193 UN member states already recognise Palestine, representing about 75% of the global community.
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Albanese added that the situation in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels, claiming that the innocent civilians are facing injustice as the death toll grows day by day.
“The world cannot wait for success to be guaranteed. That only means waiting for a day that will never come.”
International Reactions
The United States has remained opposed to recognising a Palestinian state, insisting on a negotiated peace process.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Australia’s move, terming it as “shameful” as the decision would not bring peace but actually fuel the war.
The Israeli Defence Forces already control about 75% of Gaza, leaving hundreds of thousands of Palestinians homeless after their homes have been bombed.
Australia’s opposition called the move premature, arguing it rewards Hamas and undermines peace efforts.
The recognition is seen as a lever for international pressure on Israel, especially regarding humanitarian access to Gaza and illegal settlements in the West Bank.
September 2025 UN Summit
The 2025 UN Summit will take place at UN Headquarters in New York, with world leaders convening on September 22, 2025, ahead of the formal General Assembly sessions.
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The main theme of the summit is the recognition of a Palestinian state and the revival of the two-state solution.
The meeting follows a ministerial-level conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, held in July, which laid the groundwork for broader international commitments.
The New York declaration is a seven-page declaration, endorsed by 17 countries, the Arab League, and the European Union, that calls for:
- Recognition of a sovereign, democratic Palestinian state.
- An immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
- Lifting of the humanitarian blockade.
- A halt to settlement activity and annexation in the occupied territories
Saudi Arabia maintains its stance, which is no normalisation with Israel without Palestinian statehood.
Both Israel and the United States are boycotting the summit, arguing it rewards Hamas and undermines peace efforts.
The summit is seen as a symbolic turning point in global diplomacy, as it aims to pressure Israel and gather more international support for Palestinian rights and sovereignty.
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