CANBERRA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister (PM) Anthony Albanese has accused Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu of being "in denial" about the suffering of civilians in Gaza.
Speaking one day after announcing that Australia will formally recognize a Palestinian state at the 80th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in September, Albanese on Tuesday agreed that frustration with the actions of Netanyahu's government contributed to the historic decision.
He told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) television on Tuesday that he spoke with Netanyahu on Thursday to inform him of Australia's decision to recognize Palestinian statehood.
"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 of the Israeli PM's response.
"The decisions of the Netanyahu government, firstly, the stopping of aid that we've seen and then the loss of life that we're seeing around those aid distribution points, where people queuing for food and water are losing their lives, it's just completely unacceptable."
Making the announcement at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday, alongside Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, Albanese described his government's move to recognize Palestine as part of a coordinated global effort to build momentum for a two-state solution.
On Tuesday, he told the ABC that he hopes the decision will be remembered as Australia playing its part in ending the "cycle of violence" in the region. ■
