Canberra: Australian lawmaker and former member of the ruling Labor Party, Fatima Payman, expressed her joy on Monday following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's announcement of Australia's decision to recognize an independent state of Palestine. This decision is set to be declared at the upcoming UN General Assembly session in September.

According to Anadolu Agency, Payman, whose family hails from Afghanistan, shared her excitement in a video statement, thanking Labor Party members and unionists who advocated for the government's decision. Payman, who had been ousted by Albanese for supporting a parliamentary motion on Palestinian recognition, emphasized the importance of aligning actions with principles and called for sanctions on Israel and an end to the arms trade and violence in Palestine.

The announcement by Albanese comes amid increasing calls to sanction Israel over its actions in Gaza. The call for recognition coincides with reports from the Gaza Media Office, stating that six journalists were killed by Israeli forces in the Palestinian enclave, contributing to a total of 237 journalist deaths since the conflict began on October 7, 2023.

Israel's military campaign in Gaza has faced international condemnation, with reports of nearly 61,500 Palestinian casualties since the conflict's escalation. The devastation has brought the region to the brink of famine. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for war crimes in Gaza, with Israel also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.

Albanese, who secured a second term in the May general elections, reflects on Australia's commitment to stand on the side of humanity, even amid challenging circumstances.