Spanish philosopher George Santayana warned that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. This is particularly poignant as we mark this week 20 years since Israel’s unilateral disengagement from Gaza began – a painful, high-risk effort to offer Palestinians autonomy and a foundation for peace.

Two decades ago, when Israel withdrew its soldiers and dismantled settlements in Gaza, prime minister Ariel Sharon proclaimed: “Now it is the Palestinians’ turn to prove their desire for peace.” Gaza was handed over not as a reward, but as a test.

Anthony Albanese and Benjamin Netanyahu.Credit: Marija Ercegovac

That test was failed.

Rather than build functioning institutions, Hamas turned Gaza into a fortress of terror. Rocket attacks on Israel surged, aid was diverted to fund tunnels and weapons, and children were indoctrinated with hatred.

Gaza did not become the prototype for a Palestinian state. It has become the cautionary tale.

In 2005, the international community hailed Israel’s withdrawal as a bold gesture. But hindsight reveals the flaw: autonomy was granted before the foundations of self-governance were in place. Today, with the Australian government’s announcement that it will recognise a Palestinian state, we risk making the same mistake again.

The parallels are hard to ignore. Then, as........

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