image sourced from original article at US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sharply criticised Australia and other Western nations for recognising Palestinian statehood, describing the move as a symbolic gesture driven by domestic politics. Rubio argued that such recognition would not affect the situation in the Middle East and reiterated that lasting change depends on Palestinian areas not being governed by terrorist organisations.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Australia will formally recognise Palestine at the United Nations next month, diverging from longstanding US policy. The decision has been welcomed by Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef, who called it a step towards justice and urged other countries to follow Australia's lead.
Yousef claimed that recent armed resistance, including the October 7 attacks, has brought global attention to the Palestinian cause and influenced international support for statehood. In response, the Australian government emphasised its commitment to a two-state solution and distanced itself from Hamas, reiterating its support for efforts to isolate the group.
