Canada to Recognise Palestinian State at UN, Citing Humanitarian Crisis and Stalled Peace Process.
OTTAWA:
Canada will formally recognise the State of Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, Deputy Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Wednesday, marking a major shift in Canadian foreign policy.
Carney cited the continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, the deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, and the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel as factors driving the decision.
“The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable and it is rapidly deteriorating,” Carney said during a press conference. “The prospect of a Palestinian state is being eroded before our eyes. The current approach is no longer tenable.”
While reiterating Canada’s long-standing support for a two-state solution, Carney stressed that recognition would depend on key reforms by the Palestinian Authority, including improved governance and the demilitarisation of Palestinian territories.
Carney also confirmed he had spoken with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas earlier in the day. The Palestinian Authority, led by Abbas’s Fatah party, controls parts of the West Bank, while Hamas governs Gaza. Neither territory has held elections since 2006.
The announcement drew swift criticism from Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Canada’s decision “harms the efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of the hostages.”
Canada’s Conservative opposition echoed that sentiment, saying, “Recognising a Palestinian state in the aftermath of the October 7 terrorist atrocities sends the wrong message to the world.”
The shift follows mounting domestic and international pressure. Nearly 200 former Canadian ambassadors and diplomats signed an open letter urging the government to recognise Palestinian statehood, citing “massive displacement, indiscriminate bombardment and starvation of Palestinian civilians in Gaza,” as well as settler violence in the West Bank.
Canada’s move also follows similar signals from key allies. The United Kingdom and France have recently voiced support for recognising Palestine, putting added pressure on the United States — Israel’s closest ally and a permanent member of the UN Security Council — which has not formally recognised a Palestinian state.
When asked whether Canada’s decision was influenced by recent announcements from European allies or consultations with U.S. leaders, including former President Donald Trump, Carney said firmly, “Canada makes its own foreign policy decisions.”
Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza in response to the October 7 Hamas-led attacks that killed around 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, more than 60,000 people have since been killed, and at least 154 people — including 89 children — have died from malnutrition.
The UN General Assembly is expected to convene in September, where Canada’s formal recognition will be officially presented.
