Macron Welcomes Australian PM’s Recognition of Palestinian State

The Australian and French leaders have joined the UK, Portugal and Canada in declaring recognition of a state of Palestine.

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to the army leaders at the Hotel le Brienne ahead of the Bastille Day parade in Paris on July 13, 2025. Ludovic Marin, Pool Photo via AP

French President Emmanuel Macron has praised Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for commiting to the recognition of a Palestinian state.

“I welcome the fact that Australian prime minister is joining the momentum we created in New York, which has already been supported by the United Kingdom, Canada, Portugal, and others,” Macron wrote on X.

Leaders of France, Australia and New Zealand spoke to discuss the Gaza issue and confirmed the need for the immediate release of the around 50 hostages—dead and alive—still held by terror group Hamas.

They also discussed humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza and the advancement of the two-state solution.

“This reflects our commitment to the two-state solution and to the need to collectively rebuild a political pathway, without which there can be no peace and security for all,” Macron said.

‘World Coming Together’: Albanese

Albanese had previously said he would only support a two-state solution if Hamas has not stake in a future Palestinian government.

On Aug. 12, Albanese said “of course, there’s something we can do” to remove Hamas from a future democratic process—Hamas were previously elected by Palestinians.

“We can stop them standing [in future elections], let alone be elected,” he told ABC.

“You can if you have the Arab states in the Middle East, all speaking as one as well as the Palestinian Authority as well as the international community. Yes you can.

“The international community is saying that we can’t just continue to do the same thing.”

He then reaffirmed the need to “break this cycle of violence.”

The prime minister also said Australia was building momentum in the global push for peace.

“We’re not big players in the Middle East, that is true, but this is a part of building that momentum of the world.

“You can’t just keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different outcome. This is the best opportunity that there is out of a crisis to actually provide a long-term solution.”

‘Rewarding Terrorists’: Opposition

The opposition has maintained its criticism of the policy shift.

Shadow foreign affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash said Australia’s government had rewarded Hamas for its terror attacks on Israel.

“You don’t achieve peace ... by rewarding terrorists,” she said.

“In making his announcement to recognise Palestine prior to a return of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas, Mr. Albanese has effectively delivered Hamas, which is a terrorist organisation, one of its strategic objectives of the horrific terrorism on Oct. the 7th.

“The Coalition is clear: you don’t reward terrorists while they’re still holding innocent people captive.”

Cash also questioned how Albanese planned to ensure Hamas would not eventually hold power again.

“How does Mr. Albanese intend for the Palestinian Authority to guarantee there will be no future role for the terrorist organisation Hamas given that at their last elections 19 years ago they delivered a Hamas majority?” she noted on X.