00:00Australia will recognise a Palestinian state at next month's United Nations General Assembly.
00:06Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the move joining France, the UK and Canada in increasing international pressure on Israel.
00:16Albanese said the decision follows commitments from the Palestinian Authority to exclude Hamas from any future state, reform governance, demilitarise and hold elections.
00:26He said the recognition was further prompted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's expansion of illegal settlements, threats of annexation in the occupied territories and a rejection of a two-state solution.
00:39Meanwhile, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said his country would consider recognition in the coming month.
00:44Palestine is currently recognised by 147 of the UN's 193 member states and holds permanent observer state status, allowing participation but no voting rights.
Be the first to comment