Australia and New Zealand join Canada, France, and several other nations in announcing plans to recognise the State of Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September.
Qatar has welcomed recent announcements by Australia and New Zealand expressing their intentions to recognise the State of Palestine, describing these decisions as positive steps aligned with international law and United Nations Security Council resolutions.
In a statement, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that “these decisions align with the consensus of the states participating in the International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question and Implementation of the Two-State Solution over a roadmap aimed at increasing recognitions of the State of Palestine”.
Qatar reiterated its call to all nations that have yet to recognise Palestine to take similar steps. It urged countries to demonstrate their adherence to international law and support the historical and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people on their land.
Speaking at a news conference in Canberra on Monday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that “a two-state solution is humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza”.
New Zealand is also poised to make a formal decision on recognition in September. Foreign Minister Winston Peters stated, “New Zealand has an independent foreign policy… It is only right that this complicated issue be approached calmly, cautiously and judiciously.”
Currently, the State of Palestine is recognised as a sovereign nation by 147 of the 193 UN member states, representing 75 percent of the international community.
In spring 2024, countries such as Barbados, Ireland, Jamaica, Norway, and Spain formally recognised Palestine.
Most recently, Canada, and France joined this wave by announcing plans to recognise Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has indicated it would recognise a Palestinian state conditionally, contingent on Israel meeting specific criteria, including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza.
