What does Australia’s expected recognition of Palestine mean?

With key allies including France, the UK, Canada and Malta announcing plans to recognise Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September, pressure is mounting for Canberra to follow suit.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not yet set a date, but the message from senior government figures is clear: recognition of a Palestinian state is not a question of if, but when.

This explainer outlines where Australia stands in the evolving global landscape, why recognition matters, and what it could mean in practice.

Albanese is waiting for the right moment to recognise a Palestinian state. Albanese has reportedly told Labor colleagues that such a declaration can only be made once, and must come at a moment that best contributes to a peaceful resolution of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

Earlier today, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said it's a matter of "when, not if" Australia moves to formally recognise Palestine — though he stopped short of putting a timeframe on it. Chalmers made the remarks on ABC News Breakfast, shortly before Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed his intention to recognise a Palestinian state at the 80th session of the UNGA.

Albanese spoke with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer last night and indicated further conversations between the two leaders would take place "in the coming couple of days". He reiterated that Hamas can play no role in a future Palestinian state, and noted that Palestinian Authority leadership has pledged such a state would have neither a conventional nor "paramilitary" force.

Senior government figures say Albanese wants to recognise Palestine during this term of government — potentially as early as September, when he is due to address the UNGA, The Australian reports.

Proclaiming Palestinian recognition as a lifelong goal, Albanese said: “Sometimes out of a crisis comes a moment of opportunity to actually advance forward in a real way… for Israelis and Palestinians.”

Behind the scenes, Albanese met with members of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), reportedly leaving the impression that he would not rush towards recognition. ECAJ President Daniel Aghion said, “The Prime Minister reiterated what he has said publicly about the recognition of a Palestinian state. It is on the government’s agenda, but it is not imminent.

"We also think that the government has a realistic understanding that Palestinian statehood requires a recognition of Israel’s permanence as a Jewish state, a commitment to peaceful coexistence, demilitarisation and democratic reform — not to mention the complete disarming of Hamas and the immediate release of all remaining hostages, living and dead.”

The Coalition voiced “serious concerns” about the growing momentum toward recognition, arguing the government “should not reward Hamas” while it remains in control of Gaza.

Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Michaelia Cash said: “The question of recognising Palestinian statehood should come at the end of the peace negotiation process — not at the start or during it. We want a peaceful solution between Israel and the Palestinians, and a viable, peaceful Palestinian state. This can only come through negotiations.”

On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong signed a joint statement with 14 other countries — including France, Canada, and New Zealand — expressing “our determination” to work on a “day after” plan for Gaza that ensures reconstruction and excludes Hamas from Palestinian governance. The statement also highlighted pledges by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that a future Palestinian state would be demilitarised.

Canada plans to recognise a Palestinian state at the UNGA in September, with Prime Minister Mark Carney saying the move would depend on the Palestinian Authority’s commitment to “much-needed reforms”, including significant improvements in governance and the holding of general elections in 2026, in which Hamas would have no role.

Carney also condemned the Israeli government for allowing the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza to escalate, and noted that he had spoken with Abbas earlier that day.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry was quick to react to Canada's statement, saying that it is "a reward for Hamas and harms the efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of the hostages."

Last Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron became the first G7 leader to announce plans to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UNGA. “In keeping with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine,” Macron said.

On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also announced that the UK will recognise the State of Palestine at the UNGA — unless Israel “takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza and commits to a long-term sustainable peace, agrees to a ceasefire, and makes clear there will be no annexations in the West Bank”.

Starmer said the UK demands "an immediate ceasefire to stop the slaughter" in Gaza and that the UN must be allowed to provide humanitarian assistance to prevent starvation. “We are determined to protect the viability of the two-state solution, and so we will recognise the State of Palestine in September before UNGA,” Starmer said.

Following France and the UK, Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela announced on Tuesday that Malta would also formally recognise a Palestinian state during the UNGA.

In response to France's decision, the German government stated that while it continues to support a two-state solution, it will not recognise a Palestinian state at this time. Instead, it stressed the need for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, and urgent humanitarian aid.

Italy’s foreign minister said any recognition of a Palestinian state must also include recognition of Israel. “A Palestinian state that does not recognise Israel means that the problem will not be resolved,” Antonio Tajani told a meeting of his conservative Forza Italia party in Rome.

Spain, which already recognises Palestinian statehood, welcomed Macron’s announcement. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote in a statement on X: “Together, we must protect what Netanyahu is trying to destroy. The two-state solution is the only solution.”

The latest recognition is not the first time Western countries have taken a symbolic stance in support of Palestinian statehood. Sweden recognised the State of Palestine in 2014, becoming the first Western European country to do so. It was followed by Spain in 2024.

As of March 2025, 147 of the 193 UN member states already recognise Palestine as a state. However, these recognitions have largely been symbolic and have not significantly altered the political or humanitarian situation on the ground.

The Montevideo Convention of 1933 established several criteria that must be met before an entity can be recognised as a sovereign state. These are:

Recognition also grants the recognised state access to certain rights within international organisations. For Palestinians, such recognition would strengthen their claim to sovereignty and potentially facilitate greater international support.

So far, the French, Canadian and British governments have offered no detail on whether recognition would be accompanied by concrete measures. There has been no mention of sanctions on Israel, no indication of halting arms exports, and no pledges of increased humanitarian aid or support for Palestinian governance institutions. France and the UK also remain key military and economic partners of Israel.

In the absence of a genuine political process, some analysts warn that recognition of this kind risks formalising a state in name only – a fragmented, non-sovereign entity without control over its borders, resources or defence. Without guarantees of territorial continuity, an end to the expansion of Israeli settlements and freedom of movement, statehood may remain an abstract concept.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia and France opened a three-day conference at the UN aimed at recognising Palestinian statehood as part of a peaceful settlement to end the war in Gaza.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, said the kingdom was seeking World Bank approval to transfer $US300 million to Gaza and the West Bank to address the dire humanitarian crisis. He added that Palestinians had a “legitimate right” to the establishment of an independent state along the borders delineated in 1967, “with East Jerusalem as its capital”.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the conference would also serve as a platform for other European countries to support recognition of Palestinian statehood. “Only a political, two-state solution will help respond to the legitimate aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security,” Barrot said. “There is no alternative.”

Israel criticised the Saudi-French-led conference. “This conference does not promote a solution, but rather deepens the illusion. Instead of demanding the release of the hostages and working to dismantle Hamas’s reign of terror, the conference organisers are engaging in discussions and plenaries that are disconnected from reality,” said Danny Danon, Israeli ambassador to the UN.

Labor builds momentum on Palestine recognition (The Australian, Paywall)

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese waiting for right moment to recognise Palestinian state (Jacob Greber, ABC)

UK to recognise Palestinian statehood unless Israel agrees to ceasefire – here’s what that would mean (The Conversation)

Why is UK preparing to recognise Palestinian statehood? (The Guardian)

Recognizing a Palestinian state is a great way to doom Palestinians (Dan Perry, The Forward)

UK to recognize Palestinian state unless Israel ends 'appalling' crisis in Gaza, PM Starmer says (Haaretz)