Australia yet to recognise Palestine but signs fresh statement toughening its position

Source: ABC Australia

Australia will not immediately follow the United Kingdom's lead in moving towards recognition of Palestine but has taken another step towards doing so.

In a joint statement with 14 countries, including several who already recognise the Palestinian state, Australia welcomed a series of commitments by the Palestinian Authority (PA) which could pave the way to recognition.

These include PA's calls in June for the disarmament of Hamas and the release of hostages and its undertaking to hold fresh elections within a year — key conditions for recognition identified earlier this week by Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters on Wednesday those assurances were "a very significant step forward" and that he was "continuing to engage" with allies about a way forward, but declined to offer a timeline for recognition, which he said earlier this week was not "imminent".

Read more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-30/australia-yet-to-recognise-palestine-fresh-statement/105589412

---

I'm very unimpressed with the govt's ridiculous reasoning of 'but it's a democracy!' when asked why there aren't the same level of sanctions being considered as there are on Russia.