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 decision comes amid escalating concern about the dire situation in Gaza as Israel wages war against the Hamas militant group.

Australia and Israel, once staunch allies, have seen an erosion of their relations over the course of the war in the Gaza Strip. Australia’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state came after the government sensed a major shift in the domestic mood over the war in Gaza,

(Reuters) -Foreign ministers from European countries, Australia and Britain on Friday jointly condemned Israel's plans to construct a settlement east of Jerusalem. The approval of the "E1" project would bisect the West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem, fragmenting territory Palestinians seek for an independent state.

The Foreign Ministry "rejects the attempt to impose foreign dictates upon it [Jerusalem]," it said Friday. Foreign ministers from European countries, Australia, and the United Kingdom on Friday condemned Israel's plans to construct a settlement east of Jerusalem,

A widely condemned Israeli settlement plan that would cut across land that the Palestinians seek for a state received final approval on Wednesday.

Israel's prime minister has accused his Australian counterpart of having "betrayed Israel" and "abandoned" Australia's Jewish community, after days of growing strain between the two countries. Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that history would remember Anthony Albanese "for what he is: a weak politician".