Australia has no 'imminent' plans to recognise Palestine: Albanese

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has ruled out recognition of a Palestinian state, following France's announcement that it will recognise the State of Palestine.

In an interview with ABC’s Insiders programme on Sunday, Albanese said there were no "imminent" plans for Australia to shift its position on Palestinian statehood.  

His remarks follow France’s historic decision to become the first G7 nation to formally recognise Palestine as an independent state ahead of the upcoming UN General Assembly session in September. 

French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement was widely seen as an effort to pressure other European countries to follow suit, especially as at least 142 of the 193 United Nations member states already recognise a Palestinian state. 

He suggested in his Insiders interview that Australia may only consider formal recognition of Palestine if a diplomatic framework emerges that ensures the weakening and disarming of Hamas.

"You need to recognise a Palestinian state as part of moving forward. How do you exclude Hamas from any involvement there? How do you ensure that a Palestinian state operates in an appropriate way that does not threaten the existence of Israel?" Albanese said.

"We won't [make] any decision as a gesture. We will do it as a way forward if the circumstances are met." 

France, meanwhile, has pushed back at claims that recognition of Palestine would benefit Hamas, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot saying on Friday that it directly contradicts Hamas’ position.  

He wrote that the group "has always ruled out a two-state solution" and added France was "backing the side of peace against the side of war".

Amid Israel's brutal onslaught on Gaza, several European states including Norway, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia have formally recognised Palestine, joining a growing list of non-European countries taking similar steps. 

In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has resisted calls for immediate recognition, saying that achieving a ceasefire in Gaza could be "a path to the recognition of a Palestinian state".

Germany — another key ally of Israel —  has also ruled out such a move, with officials saying on Friday that there were no plans to recognise Palestinian statehood "in the short term".