Canada will formally recognise the State of Palestine during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday, joining a growing list of Western nations advocating for Palestinian statehood in the face of mounting Israeli aggression in Gaza.
Speaking to reporters, Carney acknowledged that Ottawa had long believed in a negotiated two-state solution, but recent events had rendered that approach “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 said.
The recognition, he added, hinges on the Palestinian Authority's reform promises and a commitment to conduct general elections in 2026. However, Carney made it unequivocally clear that Hamas would be excluded from any future governance.
“Hamas can play no role in the future of Palestine and will not be allowed to participate in the upcoming elections,” he said, adding, “Preserving a two-state solution means standing with all people who choose peace over violence or terrorism.”
Canada’s declaration follows similar announcements earlier this month by the United Kingdom and France, even as the United States continues to oppose any formal recognition of Palestinian statehood.
The Biden administration’s position has been echoed by President Donald Trump, who dismissed French President Emmanuel Macron’s stance. “What he says doesn’t matter,” Trump remarked. “It’s not going to change anything.”
Trump also objected to Britain’s decision, stating that the matter was not raised during his meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland. “You could make the case that you’re rewarding people, that you’re rewarding Hamas if you do that. I don’t think they should be rewarded. I’m not in that camp, to be honest,” Trump said.
Since the outbreak of war in Gaza in 2023, Israel has faced growing international condemnation over its military actions, which UN experts and human rights groups have described as genocide. The Israeli military has reportedly killed more than 60,000 Palestinians and reduced vast stretches of Gaza to rubble.
Also read: Carney, Macron discuss Gaza crisis, urge global peace
Carney’s announcement has drawn cautious praise from advocacy groups in Canada, including the National Council of Canadian Muslims, which welcomed the move but demanded further action from Ottawa.
“This means Canada must apply further sanctions on the Netanyahu government, impose a full two-way arms embargo on the [Israeli military], review the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement, and provide better assistance to those escaping Gaza to reunite with loved ones here in Canada,” the Council said in a statement.
The group also criticised what it described as Canada’s “web of lies” surrounding arms sales to Israel, citing new findings from Israeli tax records that suggest weapons transfers have continued despite a halt on new export permits announced last year.
Meanwhile, Carney reiterated Canada’s desire to maintain an independent foreign policy, especially amid pressure from the Trump administration, which the Council compared to attempts to make Canada “the 51st state”.
“We must stand by our values,” the statement read, “particularly as the same Trump administration that backs the annexation of Gaza also threatens Canada with ideas of a 51st state.”
Canada’s planned recognition is likely to intensify geopolitical debate on Palestine’s future, though it remains unclear how the move will influence the ground reality in Gaza or the West Bank, both of which continue to face Israeli military and settler expansion.
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