Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Canada will formally recognize the State of Palestine during the upcoming 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September. The decision marks a historic shift in Canadian foreign policy and aligns the country with recent declarations by France and the United Kingdom.
Speaking at a press conference in Ottawa on Wednesday, Carney said the move was necessary to preserve hopes for a two-state solution, which he described as “being eroded before our eyes.”
“Canada intends to recognize the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September 2025,” he declared. “The worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza leaves no room for delay in coordinated international action to support peace.”
The announcement drew immediate backlash from Israel and the United States. Israel dismissed the move as part of a “distorted campaign of international pressure,” while U.S. President Donald Trump warned that the decision could derail trade talks with Ottawa. “That will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Despite the criticism, Carney stood firm, stating that Canada’s position is based on key conditions. He said recognition is contingent upon the Palestinian Authority’s commitment to implement reforms, conduct general elections in 2026 excluding Hamas, and support the demilitarization of a future Palestinian state.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) welcomed the decision as “historic,” while France pledged to collaborate with Canada to reinvigorate the peace process. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also signaled the UK’s intent to recognize Palestine in September, pending Israeli actions, including a ceasefire in Gaza.
Carney emphasized that Canada’s longstanding support for a negotiated peace process had become untenable due to ongoing violence, expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and what he described as Israel’s failure to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
He framed the recognition not as a rejection of Israel but as a necessary step toward long-term stability.
“Any path to lasting peace for Israel also requires a viable and stable Palestinian state—one that recognizes Israel’s inalienable right to security and peace,” he said.
