Canberra-Wellington, SANA- Australia announced that it will formally recognize the State of Palestine during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, scheduled for next September, while New Zealand noted that it is considering the this.

Sky News quoted Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as saying to reporters Monday following a cabinet meeting “Australia will recognize the state of Palestine during the UN General Assembly next month,” adding “This is an opportunity to realize the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.”

Albanese noted that the situation in Gaza has exceeded the world’s worst fears, and that Israel continues to defy international law there, noting that A two-state solution is humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza.”

For his part, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said that his government is considering recognizing the State of Palestine and will make a formal decision in September and present its approach during UN Leaders’ Week.

Nisreen Othman / Manar Salameh