PM says frustration with Netanyahu bolstered Australia’s move on Palestinian state
Josh Butler
Anthony Albanese claimed Israel’s leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, is “in denial” about the suffering of civilians in Gaza, and said frustration with Israel’s actions partly contributed to the decision to recognise a Palestinian state.
Going back to Albanese’s interview on the ABC earlier, the PM was asked if “frustration” at the Netanyahu government’s actions had contributed to Australia’s move yesterday.
“Yes,” Albanese replied, adding:
The decisions of the Netanyahu government: firstly, the stopping of aid that we’ve seen and then the loss of life that we’re seeing around those aid distribution points, where people queueing for food and water are losing their lives, it’s just completely unacceptable. And we have said that.
Albanese went on to reflect on his call with Netanyahu last week, where he told the Israeli leader about Australia’s pending decision.
I spoke with prime minister Netanyahu. He, again, reiterated to me what he has said publicly as well – which is to be in denial about the consequences that are occurring for innocent people.
Key events
Hastie says Gaza is ‘rubble’, but recognition of Palestine not going to bring peace ‘any time soon’
Shadow home affairs minister Andrew Hastie said the Coalition believes recognition of Palestine is a “bad decision” and “historic for all the wrong reasons”.
Hastie was asked about Israel’s decision to occupy Gaza City in recent days. Hastie said of Israel:
I understand their desire for security, especially after what happened on October 7. But I’d love to see a diplomatic solution …
When you look at Gaza from up on high through Google Earth, you’ll see that it has been largely destroyed, it’s rubble. And so, we’d all like to see peace. But I think this decision by the government is not going to bring that any time soon, and in fact, whilst Hamas remains in power, this war will continue.
Hastie said Australia has “limited agency” to make change in the Middle East, and can largely “just express our concerns as friends”.
Of course, this could all end right now if Hamas brought those hostages up out of those stinking tunnels and handed them back to the Israelis so they could be reunited [with] their families … That is the simple pathway to peace. And then potentially we could talk about Palestinian statehood.
Josh Butler
Albanese says world has power to stop Hamas from being part of recognised Palestinian state
Anthony Albanese suggested the international community could stop Hamas members from standing for elections in a future Palestinian state, as part of conditions for Australia pledging to recognise the nation.
But the prime minister refused multiple times to say whether he would revoke Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state if those conditions were not met.
Continuing his media blitz this morning, the prime minister was asked on Channel Nine about Australia’s conditions for recognising Palestinian statehood, including what the international community could do to stop Hamas being part of a future state:
Of course there is something we can do. We can stop them standing, let alone be elected. You can if you have the Arab states in the Middle East, all speaking as one as well as the Palestinian Authority as well as the international community. Yes you can.
Asked if Australia could wind back its recognition, Albanese would not directly engage, only saying multiple times that Hamas would have no role in a future state:
The international community is saying that we can’t just continue to do the same thing.
We saw the terrorist atrocities of October 7th result in the greatest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust, and since then, we’ve seen tens of thousands of lives lost, innocent lives being lost in Gaza. We’re seeing an increase in settlements and settler violence on the West Bank. We need to break this cycle of violence.
Albanese says too many journalists dead in Gaza after prominent Al Jazeera reporter killed in Israeli strike
The prime minister was asked on ABC News about the death of Anas al-Sharif, a prominent reporter for Al Jazeera who was killed alongside four of his colleagues in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday night.
Albanese said he couldn’t comment on the specific incident, but said too many media and aid workers had been killed in the conflict:
I’m not in a position to comment on any individual. What we can say, though, is that too many innocent lives have been lost in Gaza.
There have been too many journalists, people who are aid workers as well providing assistance, including of course an Australian citizen, lost in the past couple of years. You know, we see too many innocent lives being lost across the board.
Michaelia Cash says recognition of Palestine rewards ‘terrorists’
Michaelia Cash, the shadow foreign affairs minister, said Australia’s move would reward Hamas and deliver one of its strategic objectives behind the 7 October attacks. Cash told RN Breakfast’s Sally Sara:
You don’t achieve peace, Sally, by rewarding terrorists. In making his announcement to recognise Palestine prior to a return of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas, Mr Albanese has effectively delivered Hamas, which is a terrorist organisation, one of its strategic objectives of the horrific terrorism on October the 7th.
The Coalition is clear: you don’t reward terrorists while they’re still holding innocent people captive.
Cash maintained the Coalition’s stance that Israeli has a right to defend itself, although she said both parties – Israel and Hamas – must comply with international law. When pressed on Radio National about Israel’s blockade of aid in Gaza, Cash said there was “no question” the humanitarian situation there was dire:
That is not for you and I to sit back in Australia [and say] when we’ve probably both gone and had a cup of coffee this morning in our office …
Australia must advocate for safe, reliable humanitarian access, and this means ensuring aid is delivered even under conflict. It must reach civilians and it cannot be exploited by any party. Our focus should stay firm, on protecting children and innocent civilians, not deflecting blame.
Wong says recognition a change to ‘move to a better future’
Foreign minister Penny Wong said the world has an opportunity to “move to a better future” and that’s why Australia said yesterday it would recognise a Palestinian state at the UN in September. Wong spoke to RN Breakfast this morning, saying:
We’ve been looking for the best opportunity for Australia to contribute to international momentum that breaks the cycle of violence. And that is what two-states seeks to do.
We can’t keep doing what we have been doing and hoping for a different outcome. And I think that’s the decision that so many countries of the world have made.
Wong also acknowledged that the US has a different role in the world and that Trump has been working to establish a ceasefire in Gaza. But she said Australia would continue to act alongside “many partners” to see that happen, too.
Albanese says Trump has been an advocate for peace
The prime minister was asked what Australia would do if the US, a permanent member of the UN security council, votes against any effort to address the conflict in Gaza during the next general assembly in September. Albanese said:
We will see how this plays out. But the world is coming together. …
We want to see the world move forward on this and certainly President Trump has been a strong advocate for peace.
President Trump will, of course, make decisions based upon the interests of the United States. We’re not big players in the Middle East, that is true, but this is a part of building that momentum of the world.
Albanese says ‘you can’t just keep doing the same thing’ after saying Australia will recognise Palestinian state
The prime minister just spoke to Channel 7’s Sunrise this morning, saying Australia’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state sent a message to the international community that “enough is enough”. Albanese said:
You can’t just keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different outcome. This is the best opportunity that there is out of a crisis to actually provide a long-term solution. …
Albanese elaborated on his call with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, saying afterwards you “can’t just continue to do what he is saying, which is, we will continue to just have this military operation, without any political strategy for a solution going forward”:
We’re seeing how it is playing out, which is Gaza reduced to rubble. Tens of thousands of innocent lives being lost, innocent kids being killed while trying to get basic essential of food and water.
The world is watching. People are sick of it. It’s horrific watching that.
Good morning
Good morning and welcome to the live blog. It’s Nick Visser here to take you through the day’s news. Here’s what’s on deck:
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, welcomed Australia’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state. Macron wrote on social media Anthony Albanese’s announcement joined “the momentum we created in New York, which has already been supported by the United Kingdom, Canada, Portugal, and others”.
Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, maintained Australia’s decision would only reward Hamas and in no way help the Palestinian people. Herzog said “these declarations, by Australia and other countries, are a reward for terror, a prize for the enemies of freedom, liberty, and democracy. This is a grave and dangerous mistake”.
It’s RBA day for mortgage holders and savers. The Reserve Bank is set to hand down its decision on interest rates around 2.30pm Sydney time.
Let’s get to it.
