Australia will recognize a Palestinian state in September, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Monday.

The big picture: The announcement that follows pledges from the leaders of countries including Canada and France to also recognize Palestinian statehood at September's UN General Assembly came soon after it emerged that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who stood alongside Albanese when he revealed the plan.

Driving the news: "A two-state solution is humanity's best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza," Albanese said at a Monday briefing in Canberra, Australia.

The intrigue Rubio and Wong spoke on Sunday about matters including the Middle E

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