Penny Wong Urges Palestine Recognition

At a UN-led Middle East meeting, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong warned that if the international community continues to remain passive toward Israel’s actions in Gaza, “there may soon be nothing left of Palestine to recognize.”

Wong emphasized that Australia is reconsidering whether to formally recognize a Palestinian state and reiterated strong support for a two-state solution as the only viable resolution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. She stated that recognition should not be viewed as the end of negotiations, but rather as a concrete step toward advancing peace. She also noted that since the outbreak of war, over 30,000 people have died in Gaza, with significant destruction to civilian infrastructure, highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and international mediation.

Wong’s remarks reflect a clear shift in Australia’s diplomatic stance and align with recent moves by countries such as Norway, Spain, and Ireland to recognize Palestine. While Australia has not officially declared its position, domestic support, including from some Labor MPs and civil society groups, is growing. Critics argue that formal recognition could damage relations with Israel and expose Australia to diplomatic pressure from the United States.