Palestinian recognition: Israeli Government, hostages' families condemn Australia, UK, Canada decision

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared that “the cycle of violence must end,” as Australia formally recognises a Palestinian state.

Speaking live from New York, where he is attending the UN General Assembly, Mr Albanese said, “The interests of those in Israel living in peace and security is accompanied by the aspirations of Palestinians who live in peace and security as well in their own state,” he told Sunrise.

He highlighted the original vision of Israel’s creation in 1948, saying it “envisaged two states side-by-side in peace and security offering prosperity for both of its citizens.”

Responding to questions about Hamas’ role, “Hamas will have no role in this Palestinian state we are now supporting... Hamas is a terrorist organisation and can play no role,” he said.

“The humanitarian catastrophe we see rolling out in Gaza has to end. We want to see a ceasefire, we want to see hostages released and we want to see aid be able to get into Gaza.

“We have seen hundreds of thousands of people demonstrate in Israel as well for different positions other than that which is being advanced by the Benjamin Netanyahu government.”

It comes as Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid condemns Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state, calling it a “diplomatic disaster”.

“It is a bad step and a reward for terrorism,” Mr Lapid wrote on social media platform X.

“A functioning Israeli Government could have prevented this. Through smart and serious work, through professional diplomatic dialogue, through proper advocacy.”

Mr Lapid, whose Yesh Atid party sits in the political middle ground, also accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist Government of presiding over both a “security disaster” and “diplomatic crisis”.

“The Government that brought upon us the gravest security disaster in our history is now delivering the worst diplomatic crisis ever,” he wrote, referring to the Hamas assault of October 7, 2023, in which militants killed about 1200 people and abducted about 250 others.

The Israeli Government said overnight that the recognition would further destabilise the Middle East and undermine prospects for a peaceful solution to the conflict.

“Israel will not accept any detached or imaginary text that attempts to force it to accept indefensible borders,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry said on X.

The families of Israeli hostages still held in the Gaza Strip also criticised the recognition of a Palestinian state, saying it turns “a blind eye” to the 48 people remaining in Hamas captivity.

“As families who deeply want peace in the region, we believe that any discussion about recognising a Palestinian state must be contingent upon the immediate release of all hostages,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement.

“Offering such significant political rewards without securing the return of all 48 of our loved ones represents a catastrophic failure of political, moral and diplomatic leadership that will severely damage efforts to bring them all home,” it said.

The relatives of the hostages, who have been held in the Gaza Strip for nearly two years, called “on all nations to act responsibly and ensure that any ‘day after’ discussions occur only after our loved ones are brought home”.

Meanwhile Mr Albanese was asked about a long-awaited unconfirmed one-on-one meeting with Mr Trump, and he pointed out he US President would be busy today at Charlie Kirk’s funeral.

“(Mr Trump) He is of course at Charlie Kirk’s funeral today and that is a really tough day for Americans and I express my condolences to his family, Mr Kirk’s family but also to all those who will be grieving today. That is the President’s priority today and that is understandable,” he said.

“He will be hosting an event Tuesday night, I’ll be talking with him there and we will meet at some time for a face-to-face meeting but we’ve already had 4 discussions.”