WHAT'S HAPPENED?

* Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced in New York that Australia has recognised Palestine ahead of an address at the United Nations

* Australia has now joined more than 140 UN member states that formally acknowledge statehood following long-held Palestinian aspirations

WHY HAS AUSTRALIA DONE THIS?

* Canberra has teamed up with allies including the United Kingdom and Canada as part of a joint effort to build momentum for a two-state solution

* Almost two years on from Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel - which killed more than 1200 Israelis - more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza due to Israel's military retaliation

WHY IS IT CONTENTIOUS?

* The two-state solution seeks to create a separate Palestinian state, and is seen by the Albanese governme

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