Australia to Recognize Palestinian State at UN in September

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, right, and Foreign Minister Penny Wong speak at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday, 11 August 2025.

Australia will formally recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Monday, aligning with recent moves by several European nations.

Albanese said the decision follows commitments from the Palestinian Authority to exclude Hamas from any future government, demilitarize Gaza, and hold elections. He called a two-state solution “humanity’s best hope” to end the Middle East’s cycle of violence and the “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza.

He also criticized Israeli plans for a new military offensive and accused the Netanyahu government of breaching international law by restricting essential aid to civilians.

Nearly 150 of the UN’s 193 member states already recognize Palestine, though the United States and some allies maintain such recognition should come only after a final peace deal.

Albanese said the move was “a practical contribution” toward building momentum for peace. He discussed the decision with leaders from Britain, France, New Zealand, and Japan, and recently spoke at length with Netanyahu.

New Zealand’s foreign minister signaled that Wellington is likely to follow suit in September.

The announcement drew criticism from Israel’s envoy in Canberra and some Australian Jewish groups, while Palestinian advocacy groups described the move as overdue.