Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended his government’s decision to recognize Palestinian statehood, describing it as part of global Australian PM Reaffirms Recognition of Palestinian Statehood to advance peace in the Middle East, SBS News reported Monday.
Albanese reiterated the stance after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Canberra’s move during his UN General Assembly address last week. Speaking in the UK, Albanese said the world “wants to see peace and a ceasefire in the Middle East, hostages released, and aid reaching the people of Gaza.”
He added that Australia’s recognition aligns with similar decisions by Canada and the UK, framing it as a coordinated push toward a two-state solution.
The announcement comes amid Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, where more than 66,000 Palestinians mostly women and children have been killed since October 7, 2023, according to local health authorities.
