What Albo has said on the Palestine trail

Prime Anthony Albanese has announced Australia will formally recognise Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

The recognition of statehood comes after increasingly stronger language by the federal government against Israel for blocking aid and breaching international law since the war started on October 7, 2023, after the designated terror group Hamas launched an attack on Israel.

PALESTINE

* October 26, 2023: “We continue to support Palestinian aspirations for a state of their own and consider a two-state solution”.

* January 16, 2025: “We hope (a ceasefire) will allow the Palestinian people the opportunity to rebuild, reform their governance and pursue self-determination”.

* July 25, 2025: “The reason a two-state solution remains the goal of the international community is because a just and lasting peace depends upon it”.

* July 31, 2025: “Recognition of the state of Palestine is a matter of when – not if”.

* August 4, 2025: “Everybody understands that there is a risk that there will be no Palestine left to recognise unless the international community work together towards two states”.

* August 11, 2025: “Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority”.

AID

* December 13, 2023: “Safe and unimpeded humanitarian access must be increased and sustained”.

* July 26, 2024: “Sustained increase in the flow of assistance throughout Gaza is needed to address the humanitarian situation”.

* July 25, 2025: “Israel’s denial of aid and the killing of civilians, including children, seeking access to water and food cannot be defended or ignored”.

* July 27, 2025: “Quite clearly it is a breach of international law to stop food being delivered, which was a decision that Israel made in March. It’s a breach of decent humanity and of morality, and everyone can see that.”

CIVILIANS

* October 26, 2023: “We are concerned at the humanitarian situation in Gaza and call on all actors to ensure the provision of humanitarian supplies to populations in need”.

* December 13, 2023: “Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected … the price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of all Palestinian civilians”.

* February 15, 2024: “With the humanitarian situation in Gaza already dire, the impacts on Palestinian civilians from an expanded military operation would be devastating. We urge Israel not to go down this path”.

* July 26, 2024: “The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue”.

* July 25, 2025: “Every innocent life matters. Every Israeli. Every Palestinian”.

* August 11, 2025: “The situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world’s worst fears. Far too many innocent lives have been lost.”

CEASEFIRE

* October 26, 2023: “We call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages”.

* December 13, 2023: “Support urgent international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire … Hamas must release all hostages, stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields and lay down its arms”.

*January 16, 2025: “Australia welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire and hostage agreement in Gaza … We urge all parties to respect its terms and safeguard a lasting peace”.

* July 25, 2025: “An immediate ceasefire is needed desperately”.

* August 11, 2025: “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”.