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“The time has come to free the 48 hostages held by Hamas. The time has come to stop the war, the bombings of Gaza, the massacres and the displacement.”
Emmanuel Macron had earlier said he would make the release of hostages taken by Hamas during its October 7 attack in 2023 on Israel a precondition for opening a French embassy in the Palestinian state. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
In line with Israel, Trump is vehemently opposed to the international push for statehood, which has isolated the US from key Western allies.
“And frankly, he believes it is a reward to Hamas. He believes these decisions is just more talk and not enough action from some of our friends and allies.”
Albanese excluded from Trump meeting schedule
On the sidelines of the global talks, there had been hopes of securing the first face-to-face engagement between Albanese and Trump. They have spoken on the phone four times since Trump returned to power.
But his diary doesn’t include a one-on-one meeting with Albanese, who leaves New York mid-week to travel to London.
Trump will then return to Washington and welcome Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan to the White House for separate talks.
Israel ‘must accept its share of responsibility’
“We join with our allies and partners in calling for the hostages to be returned immediately and with dignity. And we stand with Jewish people around the world, who feel the cold shadow of history’s darkest chapter in any act of antisemitism,” he said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the October 7 Hamas attacks in 2023 as “horrific” during his address at the UN two-state solution event in New York. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Albanese said Australia has added its voice to global calls for a ceasefire, and he defended his cabinet’s decision to independently endorse the government’s recognition of a Palestinian state, which came into effect on Sunday.
The government says its decision to recognise Palestinian statehood is conditional on Hamas having no role in the future state and is based on assurances from the Palestinian Authority that it will demilitarise, hold democratic elections and reform governance, finance and education.
