Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has taken the unorthodox step of writing to United States Republicans to reassure the Congress members that a Coalition government would withdraw recognition of a Palestinian state.

The letter was dispatched ahead of a major address by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to the United Nations, where he is expected to tell the international community why Australia is joining to recognise Palestine.

On Sunday, the Australian government formally recognised Palestine jointly with the United Kingdom and Canada, accelerated by Israel's actions in Gaza.

In an address to the UN General Assembly, the prime minister is expected to warn that Gaza is in the grip of a humanitarian catastrophe for which the Israeli government must accept "its share" of responsibility.

He w

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