The prime minister mentioned that this decision is reliant on several conditions, such as disarmament, the conduct of free and fair elections, and ensuring Hamas has no involvement in the governance of the state.

Nevertheless, a high-ranking member of Hamas, designated as a terrorist group by Australia in 2022, told the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that Australia’s decision was bold.

“This position reflects political courage and a commitment to the values of justice and the right of peoples to self-determination.”

Yousef also stated that Australia’s decision—following in the footsteps of France, the United Kingdom, and Canada—justified Hamas’ attacks on Israel, including the large-scale attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the highest number of Jewish casualties in a single day since the Holocaust.

“These actions have brought global attention to the Palestinian cause, prompting numerous countries and organizations to reassess their stances and consequently increasing support and recognition of Palestine as a state,” he commented.

“Resistance has proven to be an effective means to break the siege and bring the Palestinian cause back to the international discussion table.”

“Hamas is a terrorist organisation. It has no role to play,” Albanese told Today yesterday.

“I’ve seen some of the comments that have been made about Hamas somehow being rewarded.

“Hamas is opposed to two states. This is the opposite of what Hamas wants. Hamas wants one state.

“And some, unfortunately, in the extreme elements of the Israeli Government want one state too.

“And when there are two opposing groups with deep-seated animosity and a military solution is favored over a political one, it only perpetuates the cycle of violence,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Israel has continued to face condemnation from across the globe for its conduct in Gaza.

More than 60,000 people, many of them women and children, have died in Gaza in Israel’s offensive, according to the enclave’s Ministry of Health. The Health Ministry is part of Gaza’s Hamas-run government, but staffed by medical professionals who maintain and publish detailed records.

After Albanese said on Monday that the Israeli government was defying international law, New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon said today that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had “lost the plot” as he weighs up whether to recognise a Palestinian state.

Luxon told reporters that the lack of humanitarian assistance, the forceful displacement of people and the annexation of Gaza were utterly appalling and that Netanyahu had gone way too far.

“I think he has lost the plot,” added Luxon, who heads the centre-right coalition government.

“What we are seeing overnight, the attack on Gaza City, is utterly, utterly unacceptable.”

Luxon said earlier this week that New Zealand was considering whether to recognise a Palestinian state.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached “unimaginable levels”, Australia, Britain, Canada and several of their European allies said yesterday, calling on Israel to allow unrestricted aid into the war-torn Palestinian enclave.

– with Reuters