Road to Recognition: How Labor’s Gaza Stance Evolved Since October 2023

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has long been a supporter of a Palestinian state.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announces that Australia will recognize a Palestinian state at a press conference in Canberra, Australia, on Aug. 11, 2025. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP

Since the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 the Australian Labor government and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have been careful in their approach, spending the past 22 months calling on both sides to cease fire, return hostages, and negotiate.

While maintaining that recognising a Palestinian state was a matter of “when, not if,” Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong made the timing dependent on several factors, particularly a reform of the Palestinian Authority and a guarantee that Hamas would play no role in future governance of the war-torn strip of desert.

But on Aug. 11, Albanese and Wong emerged from Cabinet to announce that Australia will formally recognise Palestine in September at the United Nations General Assembly.

The prime minister told a press conference that a two-state solution was “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,” but also committed Australia to “upholding and strengthening our commitment to the people of Israel and their right to live in freedom, security, and safety.”

Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong (L) listens to Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as he speaks during a press conference in Canberra, Australia on Aug. 11, 2025. Hilary Wardhaugh/AFP via Getty Images

Prime Minister’s Decades-Long Position on Palestine

For Albanese, it’s a significant way post in a personal journey he reportedly began while still at university.

Certainly by the late 1990s and early 2000s, the then-recently elected Labor backbencher frequently made speeches favouring the Palestinian cause in Parliament, while attending protests.

News agency AFP reported that during a protest held in Sydney on Oct. 15, 2000, “Sections of the crowd chanted slogans calling for a pan-Arab jihad, or holy war, to push the Israelis out of disputed lands … despite appeals from their leaders for calm, a group of about 50 protesters set fire to Israeli and U.S. flags.”

An article published in the Australian Jewish News in November of 2000 placed Albanese at the scene, saying he had “addressed a rally in Sydney last month in which Arab demonstrators burned Israeli and U.S. flags.”

Despite his presence, Albanese never personally took an anti-Israeli stance, such as when he lodged a question to then-Foreign Minister Alexander Downer in which he said, “I think that what we see at the moment with the breakdown and impasse in the Middle East peace process is a tragedy for both Israelis and Palestinians, and indeed for everyone in the region and the world.”

And in a 2015 speech, he told Parliament, “I believe there needs to be a Palestinian state, but I also believe that Israel has a right to exist in peace and security. A two-state solution is the way forward,” which echoes his speech today.

And he told ABC Radio in May of last year that his government’s position had been consistent since the Hamas attack.

“Our position has been to oppose the terrorist atrocity that occurred from Hamas on October 7. To call for the release of hostages. To express concern at the killing of any innocent life, be it Israeli or Palestinian. To support humanitarian ceasefire. To support humanitarian aid going into Gaza. To support a two state solution, which is the long term position that needs to be reached, Israelis and Palestinians have a right to live in peace and security with prosperity.”

But since the attack, the government has gradually used stronger language in its criticism of Israel for blocking aid and breaching international law.

On Palestine

Oct. 26, 2023: “We continue to support Palestinian aspirations for a state of their own and consider a two-state solution.”

Jan. 16, 2025: “We hope (a ceasefire) will allow the Palestinian people the opportunity to rebuild, reform their governance and pursue self-determination.”

July 25, 2025: “The reason a two-state solution remains the goal of the international community is because a just and lasting peace depends upon it.”

July 31, 2025: “Recognition of the state of Palestine is a matter of when, not if.”

Aug. 4, 2025: “Everybody understands that there is a risk that there will be no Palestine left to recognise unless the international community work together towards two states.”

Aug. 11, 2025: “Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority.”

On Aid

Dec. 13, 2023: “Safe and unimpeded humanitarian access must be increased and sustained.”

July 26, 2024: “Sustained increase in the flow of assistance throughout Gaza is needed to address the humanitarian situation.”

July 25, 2025: “Israel’s denial of aid and the killing of civilians, including children, seeking access to water and food cannot be defended or ignored.”

July 27, 2025: “Quite clearly, it is a breach of international law to stop food [from] being delivered, which was a decision that Israel made in March. It’s a breach of decent humanity and of morality, and everyone can see that.”

On Civilian Casualties

Oct. 26, 2023: “We are concerned at the humanitarian situation in Gaza and call on all actors to ensure the provision of humanitarian supplies to populations in need.”

Dec. 13, 2023: “Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected ... the price of defeating Hamas cannot be the continuous suffering of all Palestinian civilians.”

Feb. 15, 2024: “With the humanitarian situation in Gaza already dire, the impacts on Palestinian civilians from an expanded military operation would be devastating. We urge Israel not to go down this path.”

July 26, 2024: “The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.”

July 25, 2025: “Every innocent life matters. Every Israeli. Every Palestinian.”

Aug. 11, 2025: “The situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world’s worst fears. Far too many innocent lives have been lost.”

On a Ceasefire

Oct. 26, 2023: “We call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”

Dec. 13, 2023: “Support urgent international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire ... Hamas must release all hostages, stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields, and lay down its arms.”

Jan. 16, 2025: “Australia welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire and hostage agreement in Gaza ... We urge all parties to respect its terms and safeguard a lasting peace.”

July 25, 2025: “An immediate ceasefire is needed desperately.”

Aug. 11, 2025: “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.”

AAP contributed to this report.