Canada is planning to recognise Palestine as a sovereign state at the United Nations in September, the country’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has said.
Carney’s announcement comes a day after the UK said it will recognise Palestine as a state unless Israel meets several conditions.
France had unveiled a similar plan – Ireland, Spain and Norway all officially recognised a Palestinian state last year.
Speaking with reporters in Ontario, Carney said he had told the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, that: “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.
“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 criticized the Israeli Knesset’s call for the annexation of the West Bank and the starvation crisis in Gaza.
He said: “For these reasons, Canada intends to recognize the State of Palestine at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025.
“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 demilitarize the Palestinian state.
“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.”
