Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said today on the national ABC television that Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip constitute a violation of international law. However, he stressed that Australia does not intend to recognize a Palestinian state for now, News.bg reports.
“The civilian casualties and deaths in Gaza are completely unacceptable and unjustified“, Albanese stressed. He added: “Israel's decision in March to cut off food supplies to the Gaza Strip is a clear violation of international law.“
The prime minister also said that innocent people should not be held responsible for the conflict and urged respect for humanitarian principles.
Asked if Australia planned to follow France's example and recognise Palestine as an independent state, Anthony Albanese said his government had no immediate plans for such a decision. He said any recognition would have to ensure that a future Palestinian state would not pose a threat to Israel's security and that the Hamas movement would not play a role in its governance.
The statement came just days after French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would recognise the State of Palestine in September. So far, almost 150 countries – UN members – have already done so, recalls the German agency DPA.