Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has confirmed she has spoken with Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, about Australia’s decision to recognise Palestinian statehoood, who saw it as an influential step towards peace in the region.
“I spoke with the Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Authority, and I saw her comments publicly today, which talked about the sense of hope as a result of, not our decision, but also the decision of so many other countries to say we have to find a different way,” Wong told ABC’s 7.30 on Monday night.
“We have to find a way to stop this violence and the trauma that it’s caused and is causing.”
The Australian government made the official announcement on Monday that it would move to recognise the State of Palestine at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September as part of an effort to contribute to “international momentum towards a two-state solution, a ceasefire in Gaza and release of the hostages”.
The government noted it would “work with partners on a credible peace plan” and that a two-state solution is “the only pathway to a secure and prosperous future that respects the aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians alike.”
The decision has been made on the condition that Hamas plays no role in any future governance. The Palestinian Authority has promised Australia it would recognise Israel’s right to exist, demilitarise and hold general elections.
Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Authority Aghabekian Shahin told the ABC Australia’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state is influential and sends a clear message that international law matters.
“Australia is a weighty country, its recognition will make a difference, it will bring others to recognise, hopefully, and it safeguards the two-state solution,” she said.
“It sends a very clear message that Australia is with international law, it respects international law, it respects the rights of people to self-determination, and it wants to move alongside the Palestinians and the Israelis on the peace track.”
In an exclusive interview with Euronews in June this year, Aghabekian Shahin said she believed a Palestinian state would be a place for women and respect for the law.
”It would be a pluralistic society. There will be a place for women. I’m a woman, and I’m Minister of Foreign Affairs, and I am Christian, and from Armenian origins,” said Aghabekian Shahin, adding that it would be a place where there is respect for “international law” and respect for “any agreement signed by Palestine with its neighbours”.
The Israeli security cabinet has approved plans to seize Gaza City, a decision that is expected to forcibly displace nearly one million Palestinians to concentration zones in the south of Gaza. Palestinians, human rights groups and the UN have all warned this plan will only worsen an already disastrous humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Israel has pledged to push ahead with its plans, saying it wants to “free Gaza from Hamas”.
Speaking to this decision on 7.30, Wong said Australia opposes Israel’s plans to occupy Gaza City, which will only “escalate the conflict” and that “permanent forced displacement is not consistent with international law”.
Israel’s top global ally, the United States, has not commented directly on the plan to seize Gaza City and has not joined the growing number of countries pledging to recognise a Palestinian state.
In September, Australia will be among more than 145 nations calling for international recognition of a State of Palestine. France, the UK and Canada have already announced plans to recognise a Palestinian state at September’s UN General Assembly.
Earlier in 2024, a handful of European and Caribbean nations recognised a Palestinian state, including Barbados, Ireland, Jamaica, Norway and Spain.