Australia will formally recognise the State of Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly in September, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Sunday.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting in Canberra, Albanese said the recognition is based on commitments received from the Palestinian Authority and affirms “the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own.” The move marks a significant shift in Australia’s Middle East policy and is expected to spark international debate.

Meanwhile, in Israel, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu defended his controversial plan for Israel’s military to take control of Gaza City. In a rare live press conference, Netanyahu described the proposal as “the best way to end the war” and vowed to establish a security zone along the Gaza border. The zone would be administered by a civilian authority unaffiliated with either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority, aimed at ensuring peaceful coexistence and preventing “future terrorist incursions.”

The Israeli military is pushing deeper into Gaza’s two remaining Hamas strongholds — Gaza City and the central refugee camps — where militants are believed to be holding Israeli captives. Netanyahu said the operation was necessary to accelerate the conflict’s end, despite mounting calls from opposition leaders in Israel for a general strike to demand a negotiated agreement.

The developments come amid heightened regional tensions and could further complicate international diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting peace.