On Sunday 10 August, Australia announced that it will officially recognize a Palestinian state at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese framed it as a crucial step toward achieving a two-state solution that could help end the cycle of violence in the Middle East. He emphasized that the recognition is contingent on commitments from the Palestinian Authority, including assurances that Hamas would not be involved in any future state. Albanese stated, “A two-state solution is humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering, and starvation in Gaza.” This announcement follows discussions with leaders from the UK, France, and Canada, all of whom have expressed similar intentions regarding Palestinian statehood. Albanese highlighted the importance of this moment, suggesting that there is an opportunity for the international community to work together towards peace. He conveyed his belief that recognizing Palestine could help isolate Hamas and encourage the Palestinian Authority to strengthen governance and hold general elections. Albanese criticized Israeli Prime Minister ’s government for its approach to resolving the conflict, asserting that…
