Australia will recognize a Palestinian state at next month's United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

Speaking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting on Monday, Albanese said that Australia’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state will be formalised at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

An Israeli strike in Gaza City late Sunday night killed seven people including five staff members from the news network Al Jazeera, in an attack condemned by press freedom advocates and the United Nations human rights office.

Hundreds of mourners in Gaza gathered for the funerals of 5 Al Jazeera journalists killed by an Israeli strike on a press tent. Two more freelancers died.

Israel and Qatar, which backs Al Jazeera and has hosted Hamas leaders, have long had a relationship marked by both public hostility and quiet collaboration.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his plans to carry out a final sweep against Hamas in Gaza, arguing that Israel has "no choice" but to "finish the job" and "defeat" Hamas. The context: Speaking to the press ahead of an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Israel's plans to expand its military presence in Gaza,