In September, Australia will join the rest of the world in recognizing an independent Palestinian state. This decision puts Australia in agreement with major allies such as Canada and France. The announcement comes against the backdrop of rising war and destruction in Gaza, spilling over with fury at Israel’s conduct.
That was the explanation given by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to seal the deal. He urged that it reaffirm the nation’s commitment to a two-state solution. He made clear the need to address the cycle of violence and humanitarian pain occurring in the region. Albanese affirmed that a two-state solution is humanity’s best hope. It can help us break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and end the suffering and starvation taking place in Gaza.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has personally lobbied in favour of this recognition. She tweeted, calling the decision a major opportunity for Australia to play a positive role in advancing a two-state solution. Wong had called on U.S. Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio prior to the announcement. Perhaps most significantly, she gave him warning of Australia’s plans.
Australia’s recognition has impressive assurances of its own. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas even promises that Hamas would have no place in an eventual Palestinian state. This reassurance is of great importance to Australia, which has an interest in helping to ensure a stable and peaceful Asia-Pacific region.
Australia is not alone. During the session, the United Kingdom announced its readiness to recognize a Palestinian state if Israel continues along its current destructive path. At the same time, our friends in New Zealand are considering a similar move, with a decision expected at a cabinet meeting next week. Now, new New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has described the humanitarian situation in Gaza an “absolute human catastrophe.” In his speech, he pressed for greatly expanded humanitarian relief, particularly in the region.
Winston Peters, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, noted that the nation has long viewed recognizing a Palestinian state as a matter of timing rather than possibility. New Zealand has indicated for quite a while now that it intends to recognize a Palestinian state. Peters says it’s no longer a question of if that will happen, but when.
As such countries approach recognition, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned their impending decisions, calling them “shameful.” He expressed his condemnation towards Western countries taking steps to recognize a Palestinian state. It’s really hard to watch European countries and Australia go down that rabbit hole so readily and embrace this canard.
The international response to Australia’s decision of approval has been limited, with many stakeholders warning of dire consequences. In response, the United Nations denounced these plans. They cautioned that the steps would result in “yet another catastrophe” and continued violations of international law. Ramesh Rajasingham, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, highlighted the dire situation in Gaza, stating that “what is unfolding in Gaza is no longer a looming hunger crisis – this is starvation, pure and simple.”
As these diplomatic developments were taking place, Israel continued to escalate and expand its military operations within Gaza. In particular, they publicly detailed plans to seize Gaza City. This operation could require the forced evacuation of as many as one million people. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification has repeatedly raised alarms about the deteriorating situation. They warn that “the worst-case scenario of famine” is coming true, with starvation quickly spreading across the region.
Against this backdrop of tensions, Wong set out what a new, distinct American vision for peace in the Middle East would look like. As Einstein said, we can’t continue to do the same thing and expect a different result. We cannot continue to wait as we look to the close of a peace process that’s come to a standstill,” she declared.
As countries like Australia, Canada, France, and New Zealand move toward recognizing Palestinian statehood, they face scrutiny from both allies and adversaries. At the same time, the situation in Gaza is developing into potentially catastrophic humanitarian crises. It poses immediate dilemmas over the effectiveness of old diplomatic formulas to deliver a complete and enduring peace.
