Labor senator Fatima Payman has called upon the Australian government to formally recognise a Palestinian state, arguing it is "imperative for influential nations" to take such a position in the face of "genocidal acts" by the Israeli government.
Senator Payman's latest comments came in an opinion piece published by international media outlet Al Jazeera, reflecting a further departure from the government's formal policy on the Gaza conflict.
The West Australian parliamentarian pointed to reports from the United Nations, finding there were "reasonable grounds" to believe Israel was committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
"This is why a recognition of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders is imperative. Australia's recognition would be a symbolic and bold rejection of Israel's current bid to erase the Palestinian people," Senator Payman said.
"Recognition of a Palestinian state would not frustrate a peace process; rather, it would rescue that very peace process and keep it alive."
She argued countries such as Ireland, Spain and Norway had formally recognised Palestine as an independent state in recent weeks.
"It was not to reject or antagonise Israel," Senator Payman wrote.
"It was to rescue the process Israel is frantically trying to destroy."
Last month, Senator Payman broke ranks with her Labor colleagues to label Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide".
In the weeks since, she has resigned from several party and parliamentary committees tasked with scrutinising government policy on defence and foreign affairs.
What is the government's position on Palestinian recognition?
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said peace will only come to the Middle East once a Palestinian state was recognised, and argued international debate over that process was necessary.
She stressed while there was bipartisan support in Australia for a two-state solution, a decision on Australia recognising Palestine as an independent country had not been made.
"By recognising a Palestinian state, Australia would be affirming its commitment to this universal principle and frustrate Israel's bid to crush such aspirations of the Palestinians," Senator Payman said.
"Israel is seeking to erase the agency of the Palestinian people. Australia must stand up to restore and reinforce it.
"Our country must not become one that smothers voices calling for justice, or one that censors the oppressed seeking freedom."
Payman questions Labor logic
The first-term senator took issue with criticism levelled by senior members of the government and opposition against the Greens, after the minor party was accused of using the conflict to "harvest" votes.
The Greens had been accused of misrepresenting a procedural motion in the House of Representatives, arguing Australia's body politic was backing Israel's invasion of Gaza.
The vote was on whether to allow debate in parliament about Palestinian statehood, rather than a vote on the substance of the issue.
"My party, the Australian Labor Party, has consistently argued that such motions are political machinations on the part of the Greens in order to score 'cheap points' and sway the public," Senator Payman wrote on the Al Jazeera website.
"Even if that were the case, this 'politicking' does not detract from the underlying fact that a genocide is ongoing, and the Australian public knows it.
"Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been slaughtered, among them 15,000 children."
One of the organisations representing Australia's Jewish community took issue with Senator Payman's remarks.
"Senator Payman has taken positions on the conflict utterly antithetical to her government's own policies, including the use of a chant that our own prime minister called 'violent' and contrary to a two-state solution," executive council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said.
"Her deceitful rhetoric on genocide has endangered our community and her own colleagues whose offices are now being targeted by thugs and vandals.
"Instead of writing for Qatari state media, the senator would be well served reflecting on how this war started and calling on the Hamas leadership in Gaza and Doha to accept the ceasefire that Israel and all meditating parties have supported."