Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has had a rare phone call with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas overnight, promising to meet with him on the sidelines of a crucial global leaders meeting next month.
According to a readout of the call, Albanese discussed the immediate entry of aid into Gaza, a permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages and a two-state solution.
Abbas thanked Albanese for his support, just hours after Australia committed another $20 million of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
READ MORE: Aimee’s breast cancer tests left her with a $1400 bill shock
The two leaders discussed “deepening cooperation” and have agreed to meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.
The United Kingdom, Canada and France have set the United Nations meeting as their stage to recognise Palestinian statehood if governance reforms are agreed upon.
Albanese is under pressure to confirm whether he will use the international momentum to recognise Palestinian statehood, with his government reiterating it is a matter of “when, not if”.
When asked about Australia’s unclear timeframe for recognition, Foreign Minister Penny Wong suggested the government was working behind the scenes towards the upcoming UN meeting.
“September, there will be a high-level leaders meeting at the UN. Between now and then, we will be working with other countries and coordinating with them,” she told Today.
Albanese has stressed that Hamas could have no role in a future Palestinian state.
READ MORE: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is denied release on bond to await sentencing
Hamas has said it would not disarm until the establishment of an “independent, full sovereign Palestinian state”.
Albanese is also seeking a phone call with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Wong confirmed the talk has not happened yet.
“I’m sure if he does, the prime minister will put the view that he has put publicly, and the view of so many Australians, that Australia wants to see a ceasefire, Australia wants to see the hostages released… Australia wants aid to flow,” she told Today.
Netanyahu is poised to urge a meeting of the national security cabinet to support the full “conquest” of Gaza, according to Israeli media reports.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation has said the number of starvation-related deaths spiked and malnutrition rates reached “alarming levels” in Gaza last month.
According to the UN, at least 1300 Palestinians have been killed while trying to reach food since May 27.
READ MORE: Dozens of flights cancelled as heavy fog buries Sydney
An estimated 100,000 to 300,000 Australians marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday to protest the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The demonstration’s organisers, Palestine Action Group, said the march called for an end to the war on Gaza and demanded the Australian government sanction Israel.
”We’ve sent an enormous message to the world,” the group said.
DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
