Australian Prime Minister: Israel continues to defy international law

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on Monday that New Zealand is considering recognizing a Palestinian state.

Peters added that Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s government will make an official decision in September and will present its approach during the United Nations leaders’ week.

Australia intends to recognize a Palestinian state

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday that Australia will recognize a Palestinian state next September at the United Nations General Assembly, and that this recognition will be conditional on the Palestinian Authority’s commitments.

He added that “the situation in Gaza has exceeded the world’s worst fears” and that “Israel continues to defy international law.”

He affirmed that there is no future for “Hamas” in the Palestinian state and that it is “an opportunity for the Palestinian people to achieve self-determination.”

Last month, France and Canada announced their intention to recognize a Palestinian state, while Britain said it would follow suit unless Israel addresses the humanitarian crisis in Palestine and reaches a ceasefire. Israel condemned these countries’ decisions to support the Palestinian state, saying the move would reward Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told journalists on Sunday that most Israelis oppose establishing a Palestinian state because they believe it will bring war, not peace, even as thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Tel Aviv opposing his plan to escalate the nearly two-year war and seize the city of Gaza.