Good afternoon. Pressure is growing for Australia to recognise a Palestinian state, after Canada announced it would join key allies France and the UK to formally recognise Palestine at the next UN general assembly meeting in September.
The Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, told reporters that the planned move was predicated on the Palestinian Authority’s commitment to reforms, including fundamentally reforming its governance and holding general elections in 2026 in which Hamas can play no part. Carney also said Hamas must release all hostages. The UK’s announcement was also conditional, with Keir Starmer saying recognition would occur by September unless Israel held to a ceasefire, calling for the nation to commit to a two-state solution.
