Australia will recognize Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly next month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Monday. The decision comes with specific conditions that the Palestinian Authority must meet, including the complete removal of military forces from Gaza and holding democratic elections.
Albanese said Australia received commitments from the Palestinian Authority before making this decision. These promises include making sure Gaza has no military weapons and organizing elections where Hamas cannot participate in any Palestinian government, ensuring democratic processes remain free from extremist influence. Australia considers Hamas a terrorist group and continues to demand the release of Israeli hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack.
