Australia PM says Israel's Netanyahu 'in denial' about Gaza war

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being "in denial" about the recent conflict in Gaza. This comes after Albanese stated that Australia would recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly. The conflict in Gaza, which lasted for 11 days in May 2021, resulted in the deaths of over 250 Palestinians, including children, and 13 Israelis. Albanese criticized Netanyahu's response to the conflict, saying that the Israeli leader was "in denial" about the situation and its impact on the civilian population. The Australian government's decision to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly is a significant shift in its foreign policy, which has traditionally been seen as strongly supporting Israel. Albanese's comments suggest a more balanced approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with a focus on addressing the humanitarian and civilian impact of the violence.