‘Departing from Australia’s bipartisan support’

Requirements for Hamas to disarm and the Palestinian Authority (PA) to undergo reform have reportedly been removed from a draft policy platform circulated ahead of Labor’s national conference, to be held from July 23–25.

The conditions had underpinned the Government’s recognition of a Palestinian state last September.

According to The Australian, an April draft stated, “Hamas must disarm and can have no role in the state of Palestine” and “we will continue to work with the international community to hold the Palestinian Authority to its commitments”.

The latest draft instead merely states that Labor “condemns terrorism and violent extremism, including as perpetrated by Hamas and other extremists.”

The revised text affirms “the right to self-determination” for Palestinians, “in accordance with relevant United Nations conventions and Security Council resolutions” – which government sources say includes UN Security Council Resolution 2803, which calls for PA reform and stipulates Hamas will have no role in Gaza’s future governance.