Canada will recognise Palestinian state at UN General Assembly: PM Carney

Canada announced Wednesday that it would recognise Palestine as a state in September amid the “intolerable” humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made the announcement, explaining 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.

“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,” he said.

Saying that Canada’s plan to recognize Palestine as a state “is predicated on the Palestinian Authority’s commitment to much needed reform,” Carney pledged that “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.”

“Any path to lasting peace for Israel also requires a viable and stable Palestinian state,” he said.

Carney also stressed that “the level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable, and it’s rapidly deteriorating.”

“Canada condemns the fact that the Israeli government has let the situation deteriorate in Gaza,” he added.

The move follows a similar announcement by the United Kingdom and France earlier this month.

Carney stressed that Palestinian group Hamas can have “no role in the future state.”

Emphasising that Canada’s decision is based on the principle of self-determination and comes at a moment of urgency, he further said: “The prospect of a Palestinian state is literally receding before our eyes.”

The United States, Israel’s top ally, has rejected moves to recognise a Palestinian state, saying that the policy rewards Hamas.

The Trump administration has been uncompromising in its support for Israel, despite accusations by UN experts and rights groups that the US ally is committing a genocide against Palestinians.

The Israeli military has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians in Gaza and flattened most of the territory since the start of the genocidal war in 2023.