Like France and UK, Canada plans to recognise Palestinian state by September
Canada will formally recognise Palestine as a sovereign state during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September, joining the UK and France in a coordinated diplomatic shift.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday after a conversation with Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority. The move follows similar declarations by the United Kingdom and France, both of which signalled recognition plans unless Israel halts its military campaign in Gaza and meets other conditions.
“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,” Carney said.
“For decades, it was hoped that this outcome would be achieved as part of a peace process built around a negotiated settlement between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority. Regrettably, this approach is no longer tenable.”
Carney condemned the Israeli Knesset’s recent call for the annexation of the West Bank and the worsening starvation crisis in Gaza.
“For these reasons, Canada intends to recognise the State of Palestine at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025,” he stated.
He emphasised that recognition will be tied to reform efforts by the Palestinian Authority. “This intention is predicated on the Palestinian Authority’s commitment to much-needed reforms, including the commitments by Palestinian Authority President Abbas to fundamentally reform its governance, to hold general elections in 2026 in which Hamas can play no part, and to demilitarise the Palestinian state.”
Canada has committed over $340 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza, including $30 million in new funding and $10 million to support governance in the West Bank.
Israel’s foreign ministry rejected the move, calling it “a reward for Hamas.”
