Australia and New Zealand Set to Recognize Palestinian State, Deepening US Isolation

Australia has officially announced its intention to recognize a Palestinian state in September, with a formal declaration expected at the United Nations General Assembly next month. This move, confirmed by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday, places Australia among a growing number of Western allies signaling a shift in their Middle East policy amid escalating international condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Adding to the diplomatic momentum, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters also stated on Monday that his country is actively considering recognizing a Palestinian state, with a decision anticipated at a cabinet meeting in September. New Zealand Prime Minister Chrisopher Luxon described the situation in Gaza as an “absolute human catastrophe,” underscoring the urgency behind their deliberations.

Australia joins the United Kingdom, France, and Canada in announcing plans for Palestinian state recognition in September. This collective movement highlights the increasing isolation of the United States, which has maintained its staunch defense of Israel’s military campaign in the besieged Gaza Strip. If New Zealand follows suit, four of the five ‘Five Eyes’ intelligence-sharing nations (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) would acknowledge Palestinian statehood.

Albanese indicated that Australia has secured assurances from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas regarding Hamas’s exclusion from any future Palestinian state, along with commitments to demilitarization, elections, and governance reforms. Despite this, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly condemned such steps by Western nations as “shameful,” affirming that they will not alter Israel’s position.

The diplomatic push comes amidst a dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, with UN officials warning of widespread starvation and rising hunger-related deaths, particularly among children. International pressure continues to mount on Israel over its conduct, fueling large-scale protests globally and intensifying calls for a two-state solution as the only viable path to peace.

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