The Albanese government is set to confirm its position on recognising a Palestinian state within days, following in the footsteps of France, Canada and the UK.
It comes ahead of a United Nations general assembly meeting in New York in September and as Australia joined a handful of other nations in a statement to “strongly reject” Israel’s cabinet decision to fully occupy and takeover Gaza City.
“We are united in our commitment to the implementation of a negotiated two-state solution as the only way to guarantee that both Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace, security, and dignity,” the statement, signed by Foreign Minister Penny Wong, said.
“A political resolution based on a negotiated two-state solution requires the total demilitarisation of Hamas and its complete exclusion from any form of governance in the Gaza Strip, where the Palestinian Authority must have a central role.”
Australia’s stance of recognising a Palestinian state has drawn the wrath of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who spoke to the foreign media on Sunday. He criticised the protests that have taken place in cities across Australia, while saying it would not influence Israel’s plans to occupy Gaza City.
“I know what they’d do if right next to Melbourne or right next to Sydney, you had these horrific attacks, I think you would do probably what we’re doing – probably, maybe not as efficiently and as precisely as we’re doing it,” Netanyahu told the media.
“To have European countries, and Australia, marching to that rabbit hole, just like that, falling right into it … is disappointing, and I think it’s actually shameful, but it’s not going to change our position.”
Over the weekend, thousands of Israelis took the streets of Tel Aviv to oppose Netanyahu’s plan to occupy Gaza City. They demanded an end to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and for the release of the Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.
About 100,000 people attended the protest in Tel Aviv.
“This isn’t just a military decision. It could be a death sentence for the people we love most,” Lishay Miran Lavi, the wife of hostage Omri Miran, told the rally. She pleaded with US President Donald Trump to intervene immediately.
Meanwhile, a prominent journalist for the news publication Al Jazeera has been killed in Gaza by an Israeli airstrike. Anas al-Sharif was killed inside a tent for journalists outside of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza. Four of his colleagues were also killed by the airstrike.
It comes as at least five more Palestinians, including two children, had starved to death in the 24 hours to Sunday, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. It brings the total number of people in Gaza who have died from starvation to 217, including 100 children, since October 2023.
A 15-year-old boy was crushed to death on Saturday by a falling pallet during a humanitarian aid drop. The UN has consistently warned that air drops are dangerous and inefficient.
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health at least 61,158 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023.
The UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) has warned Palestinians in Gaza face a “catastrophic” humanitarian crisis due to Israel’s deliberate blocking of aid.
“For over 150 days, not a single truck from UNRWA has been permitted to deliver food, medicine or other essentials into Gaza,” the agency said.
“This denial of access is costing lives every single day. “We need the world to act — to open the crossings, to stop the suffering, and to uphold the most basic principles of humanity.”