---
title: "Australia's Albanese says Netanyahu 'in denial' over suffering in Gaza"
description: "SYDNEY, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu was \"in denial\" about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, a day after announcing Australia would recognise a Palestinian state for the first time."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-08-12-australias-albanese-says-netanyahu-in-denial-over-suffering-in-gaza/"
published: "2025-08-12T04:41:12"
updated: "2025-08-12T04:41:13"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 384
---

# Australia's Albanese says Netanyahu 'in denial' over suffering in Gaza

> SYDNEY, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu was "in denial" about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, a day after announcing Australia would recognise a Palestinian state for the first time.

By Reuters · Published 12 August 2025, 06:41 SAST · Updated 12 August 2025, 06:41 SAST

## Key points
- In a bold move that has Netanyahu shaking his head and the Australian public cheering, PM Albanese announces plans to recognize a Palestinian state, fueled by a growing outcry for humanitarian aid amidst the chaos in Gaza.
- Albanese criticizes Netanyahu's inaction on Gaza, linking it to Australia's upcoming recognition of a Palestinian state.
- Public opinion in Australia increasingly favors Palestinian recognition amid worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
- Tens of thousands protested in Sydney, demanding aid for Gaza as the crisis escalates.
- Former NZ PM Helen Clark condemns her country's hesitation to recognize a Palestinian state, calling for urgent action.

## Content

- Albanese criticizes Netanyahu's stance on Gaza humanitarian crisis
- Public sentiment in Australia shifts towards Palestinian recognition
- Former NZ PM Clark criticises lack of action

By Alasdair Pal

[Australia will recognise a Palestinian state](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N3U300K&linkedFromStory=true) at next month's United Nations General Assembly, Albanese said on Monday, a move that adds to international pressure on Israel after similar announcements from France, Britain and Canada.

Albanese said on Tuesday the Netanyahu government's reluctance to listen to its allies contributed to Australia's decision to recognise a Palestinian state.

"He again reiterated to me what he has said publicly as well, which is to be in denial about the consequences that are occurring for innocent people," Albanese said in an interview with state broadcaster ABC, recounting a Thursday phone call with Netanyahu discussing the issue.

Australia's decision to recognise a Palestinian state is conditional on commitments received from the Palestinian Authority, including that Islamist militant group Hamas would have no involvement in any future state.

Albanese said last month he would not be drawn on a timeline for recognition of a Palestinian state, and has previously been wary of dividing public opinion in Australia, which has significant Jewish and Muslim minorities.

But the public mood has shifted sharply after Israel said it planned to take [military control of Gaza](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3TR10A&linkedFromStory=true), amid increasing reports of [hunger and malnutrition](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3TZ1MO&linkedFromStory=true) amongst its people.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched across [Sydney's Harbour Bridge](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N3TV00F&linkedFromStory=true) this month calling for aid deliveries in Gaza as the humanitarian crisis worsened.

"This decision is driven by popular sentiment in Australia which has shifted in recent months, with a majority of Australians wanting to see an imminent end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza," said Jessica Genauer, a senior lecturer in international relations at Flinders University.

Neighbouring New Zealand has said it is [still considering](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AP8N3QM03I&linkedFromStory=true) whether to recognise a Palestinian state, a decision that drew sharp criticism from former prime minister Helen Clark on Tuesday.

"This is a catastrophic situation, and here we are in New Zealand somehow arguing some fine point about whether we should recognise we need to be adding our voice to the need for this catastrophe to stop," she said in an interview with state broadcaster RNZ.

"This is not the New Zealand I've known."

(Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Stephen Coates)