Key points
- Hamas cannot play a role in the future of Palestine: Carney
- Canada says its recognition must come with Palestinian Authority reforms
- Mehmood Abbas welcomes “historic” decision
- Canada’s announcement comes following UK, France’s commitment
ISLAMABAD: Canada plans to recognise the State of Palestine at a meeting of the United Nations in September, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday, ratcheting up pressure on Israel as starvation spreads in Gaza.
The announcement came after France said last week it would recognise a Palestinian state and a day after Britain said it would recognise the state at September’s UN General Assembly meeting if the fighting in Gaza, part of the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel, had not stopped by then, Reuters reported.
“No longer tenable”
He explained that Ottawa had hoped that a two-state solution could be achieved through a negotiated peace process, but that approach was “no longer tenable”.
“Canada intends to recognise the State of Palestine at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025,” Carney told reporters.
The move follows a similar announcement by the United Kingdom and France earlier this month.
But it is not clear how such recognitions will impact Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza and the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank – the two territories that would form a Palestinian state, according to BBC.
Carney said the recognition is predicated on promises of reform from the Palestinian Authority and President Mahmoud Abbas, as well as a commitment to hold general elections in 2026.
No role for Hamas
He stressed that Hamas can play no role in the future of Palestine and would not be allowed to take part in future elections, a condition that some argue may taint any democratic process.
“Preserving a two-state solution means standing with all people who choose peace over violence or terrorism,” Carney said.
According to the BBC, Carney told the news conference he had spoken with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas earlier on Wednesday about the announcement.
The Palestinian Authority controls parts of the West Bank through the Fatah party, led by Abbas, while Hamas runs Gaza. Neither territory has held an election since 2006.
Since October 2023, Israel has killed more than 60,000 people in Gaza, and 154 people, including 89 children, have died from malnutrition.
Abbas welcomes “historic” decision
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed Canada’s “historic” move to recognise the state of Palestine during a phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney , Wafa news agency reported Wednesday.
Abbas “appreciated Canada’s historic position in recognizing the State of Palestine, which will enhance peace, stability, and security in the region”, the official Palestinian news agency said.
US reaction
Canada’s support for Palestinian statehood makes a trade deal with Ottawa “very hard”, US President Donald Trump said early Thursday.
“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. Oh’ Canada!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
