MEDIA STATEMENT 11 August 2025
As Chair of the Australia-Israel Allies Caucus and Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I am deeply concerned by the Albanese Government’s decision today to formally recognise Palestinian Statehood at next month’s UN General Assembly.
This announcement comes while Hamas remains in control of Gaza. Hamas is a listed terrorist organisation in Australia and in other Western allied nations. Hamas invaded Israel on 7 October 2023, killing 1200 Israeli men, women and children. Many more bear the physical and emotional scars of that dreadful day. Women were raped and 250 people were taken hostage, 50 of whom remain in captivity today. Since that day, more than 20,000 rockets have been fired into Israel from Gaza.
Recognising a Palestinian State at the UN General Assembly is rewarding a listed terrorist organisation for those attacks on October 7.
The so-called “pre-conditions” that the Albanese Government have announced today are unobtainable prior to the UN General Assembly’s sitting next month, unless of course Hamas is willing to lay down its weapons, return the hostages and a roadmap for elections is established by the Palestinian Authority in less than 4 weeks. As worthy as those ambitions are, Hamas has consistently rejected these calls from the international community. Why would Hamas change its position now, when the Australian Government among others, have just given its biggest reward to a listed terrorist organisation? What will happen if the Palestinian Authority is unable or unwilling to fulfill those pre-conditions within this pre-determined deadline? Will the Albanese Government withhold its recognition of Statehood? I fear that these aren’t “pre-conditions” at all, but the culmination of a long history of personal ambition on the part of the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister has consistently said that there can be no place for Hamas in a Palestinian State. And rightly so. But if the Albanese Government recognises the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly next month and those “pre-conditions” have not been met, this will be yet another broken promise by the Prime Minister.
Statehood should only come at the end of a genuine negotiated peace process, not at the start, and certainly not while Hamas remains in power whilst holding 50 hostages in underground tunnels.
For decades, the Coalition and the Labor Party have supported a negotiated two-state solution that delivers a peaceful, democratic and viable Palestinian state alongside Israel with secure, recognised borders. We all want peace, security and dignity for both Israelis and Palestinians, but you do not achieve that by bypassing negotiations and legitimising those who are committed to Israel’s destruction.
[ENDS]
Media Contact: Brendan West
M | 0402 556 646
E | Brendan.west@aph.gov.au
