Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has accused Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu of being “in denial” over the humanitarian impact of the Gaza war, as Canberra prepares to formally recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations in September.
Speaking Monday, Albanese confirmed Australia’s decision, aligning with recent moves by the United Kingdom, France and Canada. He cited growing frustration with Israel’s conduct, saying Australians “want to see the killing and the cycle of violence stop.”
Israel, already under mounting international pressure to end its military campaign in Gaza, denounced the recognition effort as “rewarding terrorism.” Netanyahu called the decision by Australia and its allies “shameful.”
The criticism comes amid global concern over reports of famine in Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry said five people, including a child, died of malnutrition in the past 24 hours, raising the total to 222 deaths — 101 of them children. Israel rejects claims of starvation, accusing UN agencies of failing to collect and distribute aid. The UN counters that Israel’s border controls are causing dangerous delays.
Albanese told ABC News that he spoke directly with Netanyahu last Thursday to convey Australia’s decision.
“The stopping of aid that we’ve seen and then the loss of life … where people queuing for food and water are losing their lives, is just completely unacceptable,” he said. “I spoke with PM Netanyahu … [he is] in denial about the consequences that are occurring for innocent people.”
The prime minister stressed that the recognition comes after assurances from the Palestinian Authority — which governs parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank — that Hamas will have no role in a future Palestinian state.
Reaction within Australia has been sharply divided. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry condemned the move as a “betrayal,” while some Palestinian activists said it did not go far enough. Opposition leader Sussan Ley called the decision “disrespectful” to the United States, a key Australian ally.
The announcement follows one of the largest pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Australian history, with an estimated 90,000 people marching across Sydney Harbour Bridge earlier this month.
The war in Gaza, now in its tenth month, began after the October 7 Hamas-led attack that killed about 1,200 people in Israel and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel’s military campaign has since killed more than 61,000 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.