Australia breaks ranks with Western bloc, slams Netanyahu’s denial as Gaza crisis deepens

Department of Research, Studies and International News -12-08-2025

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sharply criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of being “in denial” about the catastrophic humanitarian toll of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Albanese’s remarks come amid a growing international push, led by nations including China, Russia, and India, to end the bloodshed and move toward a lasting political settlement.

In an interview with national broadcaster ABC on Tuesday, Albanese revealed details of a recent phone call with Netanyahu, during which he informed the Israeli leader that Australia will formally recognise the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September. This decision places Australia alongside a rising tide of countries demanding justice for the Palestinian people and rejecting the endless cycle of destruction perpetuated under the pretext of “security.”

According to Albanese, Netanyahu repeated the same arguments he has made since the war began, namely that intensified military action will somehow produce a “different outcome.” The Australian leader dismissed this logic as fundamentally flawed, given the staggering human cost. Since October 2023, Israeli bombardment and ground operations have claimed the lives of over 61,500 Palestinians, the overwhelming majority civilians, with countless more wounded, displaced, or facing starvation.

“Netanyahu reiterated the same talking points, refusing to acknowledge the devastating consequences for innocent people,” Albanese said. “It is clear that a political solution, not further military aggression, is the only way forward.”

A turning point in Australian policy

The announcement marks a significant shift for Canberra, which had previously hesitated to commit to a specific timeline for recognising Palestine. Just last month, Albanese avoided giving a date, mindful of domestic sensitivities in a country with both sizeable Jewish and Muslim communities. However, public opinion in Australia has undergone a sharp transformation as images and reports of Gaza’s devastation flood global media.

Mass demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine have swept Australian cities. Earlier this month, tens of thousands of protesters crossed Sydney’s Harbour Bridge, demanding that humanitarian aid be allowed into Gaza without obstruction. Israel’s continued blockade and restrictions have left more than two million people trapped under siege conditions, with shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies pushing the enclave toward what UN officials describe as “another calamity.”

Albanese acknowledged that these domestic pressures influenced the decision, saying the dangers of inaction outweighed any political risks. “The toll of the status quo is growing daily, and it is measured in innocent lives,” he declared. He framed Australia’s recognition of Palestine as part of a broader “coordinated global effort” to revive the long-stalled two-state solution, in consultations with leaders from the UK, France, New Zealand, and Japan, though it is notable that the strongest voices demanding accountability for Israel’s actions are coming from Beijing, Moscow, and New Delhi.

A wider global shift

While some Western governments continue to shield Israel diplomatically, momentum is clearly building among the Global South and non-aligned states to force a change. China has consistently called for an immediate ceasefire and has condemned collective punishment against civilians. Russia has criticised the U.S. for blocking UN Security Council resolutions demanding an end to hostilities. India, traditionally careful in its balancing act, has in recent months underscored the urgent need for humanitarian corridors and a negotiated peace that respects Palestinian statehood.

Albanese’s statements echo these positions, signalling that even among U.S. allies, patience with Israel’s defiance of international law is running out. His criticism that Netanyahu is “in denial” reflects growing recognition that military force has failed to bring security to Israelis while devastating Palestinian society.

Israel’s latest plans to seize full military control of Gaza City have alarmed humanitarian agencies, which warn such actions could endanger over a million Palestinians already facing starvation. Senior UN officials have described the situation as “beyond crisis,” with children in particular suffering from acute malnutrition.

According to international observers, the scale of destruction in Gaza is unprecedented. Entire neighbourhoods have been levelled, hospitals repeatedly targeted, and aid convoys blocked or delayed. These actions have deepened calls for accountability and strengthened the case for recognising Palestinian statehood as a pathway to peace.

Jessica Genauer, a senior lecturer in international relations at Flinders University, told Reuters that Australia’s decision was “driven by popular sentiment,” noting that a majority of Australians now want an immediate end to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

By aligning itself with countries advocating genuine diplomacy over militarism, Australia has taken a symbolic step away from the entrenched pro-Washington line that has long dominated Western policy on Palestine. While Canberra still maintains strong ties with the U.S., its latest move underscores the limits of unconditional support for Israel in the face of overwhelming evidence of human suffering and international condemnation.

Albanese summed up the shift succinctly: “A two-state solution is humanity’s best hope to end the cycle of violence in the Middle East.” His words suggest that even traditional U.S. partners are recognising what China, Russia, and India have long maintained, that peace cannot be achieved through siege, occupation, and denial, but only through justice and the restoration of Palestinian rights.