Anthony Albanese calls Mahmoud Abbas

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has held a phone call with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, during which he reiterated Australia’s call for the immediate entry of aid into Gaza, as well as a “permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages”.

According to a readout of the phone call, Prime Minister Albanese also “reinforced Australia’s commitment to a two-state solution because a just and lasting peace depends upon it”.

President Abbas reportedly thanked Prime Minister Albanese for Australia’s economic and humanitarian support and the two leaders, who discussed “deepening cooperation”, also agreed to meet on the sidelines of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.

The United Kingdom, Canada and France have set the United Nations meeting in New York to recognise Palestinian statehood. Foreign Minister Penny Wong told ABC radio she had said for a year Australia doing the same was a matter of “when, not if”.

“There is a risk there will be no Palestine left to recognise if the international community don’t move to create that pathway to a two-state solution,” she said.