NEW YORK, Sept 22 — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cited an Australian aid worker killed in Gaza, along with journalists and "tens of thousands of civilians", in a speech at the United Nations (UN), where dozens of leaders met on Monday to promote Palestinian statehood.
On Sunday, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada recognised Palestine, joining more than three-quarters of the 193 UN members who already recognise a Palestinian state, a move opposed by the United States (US) and Israel.
He said that Australia was the first UN member to vote 78 years ago for the plan that made Israel's statehood possible, and continued to stand with the Jewish people against anti-semitism.
"The Israeli Government must accept its share of responsibility" for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where tens of thousands of civilians had been killed.
"Aid workers have been killed trying to deliver humanitarian assistance, including Australian Zomi Frankcom," Albanese said during the UN General Assembly (UNGA), noting also the journalists "killed trying to bring the truth to light".
His centre-left Labour government had decided to recognise Palestine based on commitments from the Palestinian Authority that Hamas would hand over its weapons and have no role in a future state, and that elections would be held.
Albanese is attending the UNGA for the first time. Despite earlier hopes that the trip would provide an opportunity for his first meeting with US President Donald Trump, an important security ally, Australia did not appear among the countries listed by the White House on Monday for bilateral meetings in New York.
On Tuesday, Australian media outlets reported this as a "snub" after Trump told the press last week that Albanese would be coming for a visit to see him "very soon".
