Canberra [Australia], August 12 — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being “in denial” about the suffering in Gaza, stating that the international community is increasingly saying, “Enough is enough.” His remarks, quoted by Al Jazeera, come just a day after he announced that Australia will recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations next month.
Albanese said frustration with the Israeli government, amid the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, contributed to Australia’s decision to extend recognition. Speaking to state broadcaster ABC on Tuesday, he revealed that he had informed Netanyahu last week of the decision to join France, Canada, and the United Kingdom in recognising a Palestinian state during the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting in September.
According to Albanese, Netanyahu repeated the same arguments he made last year regarding Israel’s military campaign in Gaza — a conflict that has, according to Al Jazeera, claimed the lives of more than 61,500 Palestinians since October 2023. “That if we just have more military action in Gaza, somehow that will produce a different outcome,” Albanese recounted of his conversation with the Israeli leader.
On Monday, announcing the policy shift, the Australian Prime Minister said, “The risk of trying is nothing compared to the danger of letting this moment pass us by.” His stance marks a sharp turn from last month, when he declined to set a timeline for recognition, citing potential backlash from Australia’s significant Jewish and Muslim communities.
However, public sentiment in Australia has shifted notably against Israel’s war in Gaza. Earlier this month, tens of thousands of demonstrators marched across Sydney’s Harbour Bridge, demanding that aid deliveries be allowed into Gaza as the humanitarian crisis deepens and Israel’s military continues to block relief efforts.
Australia’s recognition of Palestinian statehood will align it with other major Western nations in a move that Albanese said reflects a growing consensus that the current trajectory in Gaza cannot continue.
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