Carney said the recognition aims to preserve the rapidly fading hopes of a peaceful resolution through the establishment of two independent states. Canada intends to recognize the State of Palestine at the UN in September.
This is essential to keep alive any prospects for peace that are being eroded before our eyes, Carney stated at a press conference in Ottawa.
This announcement makes Canada the third G7 nation, after the United Kingdom and France, to support Palestinian statehood this year.
French President Emmanuel Macron had earlier declared France’s intention to back Palestinian recognition at the same UN meeting, calling it a necessary step toward reviving the prospects of peace in the region.
The French government emphasized that statehood should accompany reforms and international oversight, but underscored the urgency of international action.
Similarly, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer revealed that Britain will formally recognize the Palestinian state in September conditional on Israel’s agreement to a ceasefire in Gaza and other substantive steps.
Starmer maintained that Palestinian statehood is a right, not a favor, long overdue in the face of growing instability in the region.
The United Nations has consistently endorsed the two-state solution as the only viable framework for lasting peace. Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated that a sovereign, independent, viable, and contiguous Palestinian state, living side-by-side in peace with Israel, is essential for regional stability.
Meanwhile, the United States response has been notably mixed. Former President Donald Trump, in a statement posted on Truth Social, denounced Canada’s decision, warning it could strain bilateral trade relations.
Wow! Canada has just announced that it is backing statehood for Palestine. That will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them, Trump wrote. Though President Joe Biden has not yet issued a formal statement, the U.S. under his leadership has urged restraint and emphasized reforms within the Palestinian Authority before recognition can occur.
Israel reacted sharply to Canada’s announcement, calling it part of a distorted campaign of international pressure. The Israeli embassy in Ottawa criticized the move, warning it rewards what they described as Hamas’s violent actions, particularly referencing the October 7, 2023 attacks.
However, Prime Minister Carney said Canada’s recognition was conditional on reforms by the Palestinian Authority (PA), led by President Mahmoud Abbas. He emphasized the PA’s commitments to hold general elections in 2026, exclude Hamas from political participation, and pursue demilitarization.
Abbas welcomed the recognition as a historic decision, while reiterating his government’s willingness to enact the proposed reforms.
Carney acknowledged the challenges facing the two-state framework, including Hamas’s violent rejection of Israel’s existence and continued Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
He noted that a recent vote in Israel’s parliament advocating for annexation of parts of the West Bank signaled a further collapse of the peace process.
Still, Carney framed Canada’s move as one rooted in the protection of both Israeli and Palestinian futures. Any path to lasting peace for Israel also requires a viable and stable Palestinian state, and one that recognizes Israel’s inalienable right to security and peace,” he said.
As the world prepares for the UN session in September, pressure is mounting on both the Palestinian and Israeli leaderships to commit to meaningful dialogue.
With Britain, France, and now Canada stepping forward, momentum is building for what could become a pivotal shift in global diplomacy on the Middle East crisis.
