Trending 
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Canada will officially recognise the State of Palestine during the 80th United Nations General Assembly in September 2025, aligning Ottawa with several Western nations that have recently taken similar steps in response to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Speaking on Wednesday, Carney said Canada had long supported a two-state solution through negotiations, but that path had become “no longer tenable” due to the worsening conflict and lack of progress.
“Canada intends to recognise the State of Palestine,” Carney told journalists, adding that the recognition would come with specific expectations from the Palestinian Authority, including reforms and a pledge to hold general elections in 2026.
He was clear that Hamas would be excluded from playing any role in the governance of a future Palestinian state—a stance critics say undermines democratic principles by pre-emptively barring a political faction.
“Backing a two-state solution means siding with those who choose peace over violence or terrorism,” the Canadian leader said.
Canada joins the UK and France, both of which recently committed to recognising Palestine as a state. However, the impact of these recognitions on the ongoing conflict remains uncertain, especially as Israel’s bombardment in Gaza and its expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank continue.
The United States has firmly opposed these developments. President Donald Trump dismissed French President Emmanuel Macron’s recognition plan and criticised the UK’s move, claiming it effectively rewards Hamas. “You could make the case that you’re rewarding people… I’m not in that camp,” Trump said following a recent meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The Trump administration has maintained unwavering support for Israel, even in the face of international accusations of war crimes and potential genocide committed during the war in Gaza, which began in 2023 and has killed over 60,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
While Canada previously declared it would halt new arms exports to Israel, a recent report from advocacy organisations revealed that weapons continued to be delivered via existing permits. The groups accused Ottawa of misleading the public and urged the government to suspend all arms exports to Israel immediately.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims welcomed Carney’s recognition pledge but urged the government to take further action. In a statement, the group called for stronger sanctions against the Israeli government, a full arms embargo, and a review of the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement. It also pushed for increased support for Palestinians trying to reunite with family members in Canada.
