Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, has told the ABC network that Australian recognition of Palestinian statehood “will not change anything on the ground”.

“It will not bring a ceasefire, it will not bring the two parties closer,” Maimon told the ABC’s 7.30 programme on Monday night.

“It’s important to emphasise we reject the recognition, unilateral recognition,” Maimon said.

“The only solution, the only way out is if the two parties will sit down and will negotiate directly and bilaterally,” he said.

“This is something that needs to be understood.”

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that he made the announcement on recognising Palestine partly because of Israel’s decision to “double down on its military solution without a political solution being advanced or forwarded by the Netanyahu government”.

That included Israel’s recent plan “to go in and to occupy Gaza City”, Albanese said.