Canada to recognize Palestinian state in September
PM Carney says Canada plans on making the proclamation at the UN General Assembly this September
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OTTAWA — Canada intends to officially recognize a sovereign state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly this September.
The announcement was made by Prime Minister Mark Carney at a last-minute press conference on Parliament Hill late Wednesday afternoon, after a cabinet meeting convened to discuss concerns with Israel’s ongoing operation in Gaza.
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“This intention is predicated on the Palestinian Authority’s commitment to much-needed reforms — including the commitments by Palestinian Authority President (Mahmoud) Abbas to fundamentally reform its governance, to hold general elections in 2026 in which Hamas can play no part, and to demilitarize the Palestinian state,” Carney said.
“Canada will increase its efforts in supporting strong, democratic governance in Palestine and the contributions of its people to a more peaceful and hopeful future.”
Carney’s announcement comes just days after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he’d do the same if Israel didn’t take steps to reduce suffering in Gaza, enact a ceasefire and not annex any more land in the West Bank.
“The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable, and it’s rapidly deteriorating,” Carney said in English before switching to French.
“Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed, thousands more are on the brink of famine. Canada condemns the fact that the Israeli government has let the situation deteriorate in Gaza to this extent.”
Foreign Minister Anita Anand, who spent the week attending high-level meetings at the United Nations in New York on the topic, stood by Carney’s side during Wednesday’s press conference.
“International co-operation is essential to securing lasting peace and stability in the Middle East, and Canada will do its best to help lead that effort,” Carney said.
“Canada has long been committed to a two-state solution — an independent, viable, and sovereign Palestinian state living side-by-side with the State of Israel in peace and security.”
Those hopes, he said, have been eroded by ongoing Palestinian terrorism, including the Oct. 7 2023 terror attacks, accelerated settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, recent votes in the Knesset calling for the annexation of the West Bank, and Israeli government actions in Gaza, with Carney accusing Israel of impeding access to food and medical supplies.
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Addressing the explosion of antisemitism Canada’s seen since the Oct. 7 attacks, Carney said legislation would be introduced this fall to criminalize intentionally blocking access to places-of-worship, community centres and schools.
Anti-Israel activists have frequently targeted Jewish schools, synagogues and businesses since Oct. 7, staging demonstrations, intimidation marches and even opening fire.
“The heinous attacks of Oct. 7th traumatized the Jewish people in Israel, here in Canada and around the world,” Carney said.
“With each day that the remaining hostages and their remains are not returned, families live in fear and grief.”
ISRAEL REJECTS CANADA’S MOVE
In a statement, Canada’s Israeli embassy rejected the gesture, saying it rewards Hamas’ barbarism and punishes both Israeli and Palestinian victims of terror.
“Let us be clear: Israel will not bow to the distorted campaign of international pressure against it,” said Israeli Ambassador Iddo Moed.
“We will not sacrifice our very existence by permitting the imposition of a jihadist state on our ancestral homeland that seeks our annihilation.”
The Conservative Party of Canada, while supporting the idea of a two-state solution, said recognizing it in the aftermath of Oct. 7 sends the wrong message.
“A unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood, without peace negotiations or a renunciation of violence, destroys the path to a durable, two-state solution,” read a statement.
“Worse, it legitimizes terrorism by handing political rewards to a group that rules Gaza through fear, oppression, and brutality.”
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