Why is Australia Recognizing Palestine as a State? PM Albanese Explains

Darwin, Aug 12 — The Australian government has decided to recognize Palestine as a state, citing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and deep disappointment with the Israeli government.

In an interview with Australia’s national broadcaster ABC on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the announcement.

The Australian prime minister said Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu remains “in a position of denial” regarding the suffering of innocent people in Gaza, and that the international community is now saying, “Enough is enough.”

On Monday, Australia announced that it would formally recognize the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Explaining the reason, Albanese said, “The humanitarian crisis in Gaza and disappointment with the Israeli government are the main reasons behind this decision.”

He added, “Netanyahu has reiterated to me what he has said publicly before — refusing to acknowledge the suffering of innocent people.”

Albanese said Netanyahu was recently informed of Australia’s decision, noting that this move puts the country alongside France, Canada, and the United Kingdom in advancing recognition of Palestine as a state.

During their conversation, Netanyahu repeated his old argument that further military operations in Gaza would bring a different outcome — a notion Albanese described as “mistaken.”

On October 7, 2023, members of the armed group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, carried out a deadly attack inside Israeli territory, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.

In retaliation, the Israeli military launched a prolonged offensive in Gaza. So far, Israeli strikes have killed more than 61,500 Palestinians.

Many countries have condemned these attacks on Palestinians, with protests erupting worldwide against Israeli aggression.

Public opinion in Australia has also shifted in recent months. Sympathy for Gazans has grown, along with opposition to Israel’s military actions.

In August, thousands of people gathered at Sydney’s Harbour Bridge to demand humanitarian aid be delivered to Gaza.

Israel is reportedly planning to take military control of Gaza City — a move that could endanger the lives of over one million Palestinians. A senior United Nations official has called this “a major catastrophe.”

Jessica Genauer, senior lecturer in international relations at Flinders University, said, “Public opinion in Australia has clearly shifted in recent months. Most Australians now want an immediate resolution to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”