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Australia will join the UK, Canada and several European countries at the UN General Assembly to support Palestinian recognition.

The move is seen as symbolic because Palestinians are living under military occupation and do not have control over their territory or settled borders.

The move, announced in August, provoked ire from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who said it was “rewarding terror”, but Mr Albanese said at the time 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”.

‘Important role’

Mr Albanese landed in New York in Sunday morning and held a brief press conference on the tarmac.

When asked what he hoped would result from this week, he said: “What we want to see is increased peace, security and stability around the world.

“Australia plays an important role. We are a trusted partner, an ally, a country that plays a positive role in our region, in the Pacific as well as, of course, with our ASEAN neighbours and traditional allies such as Five Eyes partners including the US and UK.”

In recognising a Palestinian state, Australia will join a majority of UN member states – 147 out of 193 – which already do.

The United States does not recognise Palestine and has vetoed past attempts by the Palestinian Authority to join the UN.

Mr Albanese previously said there would be “no role for the terrorists of Hamas in any future Palestinian state”, adding: “This is one of the commitments Australia has sought and received from President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Authority has reaffirmed it recognises Israel’s right to exist in peace and security.”

‘Punitive measures’: Washington’s warning

The pledges to recognise Palestinian statehood have not gone down well in Washington, with Donald Trump’s top diplomat dismissing them as motivated by “internal politics” and “largely meaningless”.

Ahead of the UNGA, Senior Republicans closely allied to the US President penned a letter to Mr Albanese and the leaders of Canada, France and the UK calling on them to rethink the “reckless policy” and warning that it “sets the dangerous precedent that violence, not diplomacy, is the most expedient means for terrorist groups like Hamas to achieve their political aims”.

“Hamas’s war crimes are clear, and its rejection of diplomacy should lead your countries to impose more pressure. Instead, you offer greater rewards,” they wrote.

The group, which included former presidential candidate Ted Cruz, also warned recognition “imperils the security of your own countries”.

“Proposed recognition is coinciding with sharp increases in anti-Semitic activity in each of your countries. Jews are facing unprecedented harassment and attacks against them are becoming a common occurrence,” they wrote.

“You have the responsibility to stand against this scourge, denounce violence, and protect Jewish communities.

“Sadly, your actions to legitimatize a Palestinian terror state will only provide greater motivation to the violent anti-Semitic mobs.

“Proceeding with recognition will put your country at odds with longstanding US policy and interests and may invite punitive measures in response.”