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Key Points
- In July, France announced its intention to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly meeting in New York.
- More than 140 of the 193 UN member states already recognise the State of Palestine.
- Foreign Minister Penny Wong has revealed Australia is working with other countries on the statehood issue.
The leaders of Australia and France have made plans to meet at a United Nations gathering, where Palestinian statehood and the crisis in Gaza will be major issues.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Emmanuel Macron spoke overnight on Tuesday, almost two weeks after France announced its intention to recognise a Palestinian state at the general assembly meeting in New York in September.
France was followed by Canada and the United Kingdom, which also stated their intentions, with conditions including the exit of Hamas from the Gaza Strip, the reform of the Palestinian Authority and demilitarisation of the state.
“The leaders spoke about the crisis in Gaza and their ongoing commitment to getting aid to civilians,” according to a readout of the call between Albanese and Macron.
“Both leaders discussed their longstanding support for a two-state solution.”
“The leaders agreed to stay in close touch and meet again at the United Nations General Assembly in September.”
More than 140 of the 193 UN member states already recognise the State of Palestine, including European Union members Spain and Ireland.
Albanese has said recognition by Australia is a matter of “when, not if”, but has been hesitant to set a timeline.
He’s previously stated any UN resolution would need to guarantee the designated terror group Hamas played no role in the future nation.
“We understand the urgency, we also understand the importance of having impact, we are obviously discussing and co-ordinating these issues with many countries,” she said on Tuesday.
“Everybody understands that there is a risk that there will be no Palestine left to recognise unless the international community work together towards two states.
“We want to ensure work with others to ensure that Hamas has no role in a future Palestinian state, and we do have a unique opportunity at this time with the international community to isolate Hamas.”
Albanese spoke with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday morning, when he reiterated Australia’s commitment to a two-state solution in the Middle East that would allow a Palestinian state and Israel to peacefully co-exist.
Israel has bombarded Gaza since Hamas’ October 7 attack in 2023, in which more than 1,200 people, including an estimated 30 children, were killed and over 200 hostages taken, according to the Israeli government. More than 60,430 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
The October 7 attack was a significant escalation in the long-standing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Israel has denied the population in Gaza is facing, or succumbing to, starvation.
Albanese also stressed to Abbas the need for the immediate delivery of aid to Gaza, a permanent ceasefire and the release of all Israeli hostages taken by Hamas.
Abbas thanked Australia for its humanitarian support for Gaza and agreed to meet him on the sidelines of the UN meeting starting on 9 September.
In late July, Albanese also had a call with his UK counterpart Keir Starmer about support for a two-state solution.
France was the first of the G7 group of major industrialised nations to announce it would recognise a Palestinian state.
The G7 includes France, the United States, the UK, Italy, Germany, Canada and Japan.
