Israel’s Gaza Strip Takeover Plan draws global criticism
Israel approved plans to expand its Gaza operations with a full acquisition plan, sparking global criticism and hostage concerns.
Sydney, Aug. 11 (Reuters) – Australia will recognize Palestinian state at next month’s UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday that it will increase the movement to add to international pressure on Israel after similar announcements from France, the UK and Canada.
“Australia will recognize Palestine in its 80th session of the UN General Assembly in September, contributing to the international momentum towards a two-state solution, a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages,” Albanese said in a statement.
Albanese told reporters in Canberra that the commitments Australia has received from Palestinian authorities, including the failure of the Islamic extremist group Hamas to engage in the future state.
“The two states’ solution is humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and end the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza,” Albanese said at a press conference.
Albanese spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday and said he told him that he needed a political solution rather than a military.
Australia criticized Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza last week, and Albanese said the decision to recognize the Palestinian state was “further enforced” by not ignoring Netanyahu’s international call and failure to comply with Gaza’s legal and ethical obligations.
“The Netanyahu government is rapidly expanding its rapidly expanding illegal settlements, threatening annexation on occupied Palestinian territory and explicitly opposed the Palestinian state,” Albanese said in a joint statement with Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
The commitment to reform Palestine’s rule, unarmed, and hosting general elections, as well as the Arab League’s demands for Hamas to end its control in Gaza, he said, created opportunities.
“This is an opportunity to isolate Hamas,” he added.
Wong said she notified Secretary of State Marco Rubio of Australia’s decision.
US President Donald Trump criticized Canada’s decision to support the Palestinian state last month, and Rubio said the French decision was reckless.
Israeli Australia’s ambassador, Amir Maimon, criticized Australia’s decision on social media platform X, for undermining Israel’s security and derailing hostage negotiations.
Last month, Albanese did not publicly commit to the time frame for recognition, and was previously wary of split public opinion in Australia over Gaza.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched across Sydney’s port bridge this month, calling for the delivery of aid in Gaza as the humanitarian crisis worsened.
Albanese said Monday that “big concerns” over Gaza’s devastation came from members of the community as well as international leaders.
Gareth Evans, former Australian foreign minister, said it would be “absolutely timely” for Australia to advance awareness.
“Australia will join a group of trustworthy voices from the Global North, and act in harmony with its Arab neighbors now in Israel, building up new pressures on Netanyahu, changing the course that is more defensively destructive and self-destructive for Israel,” he said in a comment to Reuters.
Donald Rothwell, a professor of international law at Australian National University, said that recognising the states of Palestine, means that Australia will provide assistance without passing through the United Nations or other agencies, contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza, and conclude a legally binding treaty.
Varsen Aghabekian, Foreign Minister for Palestinian Authority, said in an interview with an Australian broadcasting company that it was a long-awaited decision to “give Palestinians hope for the future,” but a ceasefire remains a priority.
New Zealand said it would consider its position on the perception of the Palestinian state this month.
Israel launched an attack on Gaza after Hamas-led fighters attacked Israeli towns near the border, killing about 1,200 people on October 7, 2023 and capturing 251 hostages. Since then, Israeli forces have killed at least 60,000 people in Gaza, where health officials said.
Malnutrition is spreading to enclaves as international aid agencies say it is an intentional Israeli plan to limit aid. Israel has rejected the allegations, saying Hamas has denounced hunger among the Palestinians and that much aid is being distributed.
(Reporting by Sydney’s Christine Chen and Kirsty Needham, edited by Christian Schmolinger, Stephen Coates, Lincoln Feast and Michael Perry)
