By Alasdair Pal

SYDNEY -Australia’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state came after the government sensed a major shift in the domestic mood over the war in Gaza, and showed that Canberra was unafraid of upsetting Israel, historically one of its staunchest allies.

The August 11 announcement came days after tens of thousands of people marched across Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge, calling for peace and aid deliveries to Gaza, where Israel began an offensive nearly two years ago after the Hamas militant group launched a deadly cross-border attack.

Health authorities in Gaza say at least 60,000 Palestinians have been killed while the U.N. has warned of starvation.

“It just became politically unpalatable to be continuing to defend Israel and lay all the blame at the feet of Hamas,” sa

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