Australia to recognise Palestinian state in September

Australia has announced a plan to recognise a Palestinian state in September, following similar moves by the UK, France and Canada.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the move will happen at the UN General Assembly and after it received commitments from the Palestinian Authority.

"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," he said on Monday.

Israel, which is under increasing pressure to end the war in Gaza, has said recognising a Palestinian state "rewards terrorism".

Since Saturday, five people have died as a result of starvation and malnutrition in Gaza, bringing the total number to 217 deaths, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

It also said that in total more than 61,000 people have been killed as a result of Israel's military campaign since 2023.

Israel launched its offensive in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October that year, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

The Palestinian Authority, which controls parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, earlier said recognition of statehood shows growing support for self-determination of its people.

Albanese said the decision was made after his government received commitments from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that Hamas would play no role in any future state.

He added that his decision comes after conversations with his counterparts in the UK, France, new Zealand, and Japan over the past fortnight.