In a landmark shift, Canada has declared that it will formally recognise the State of Palestine at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in September 2025, citing the “intolerable” humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, reported the New York Times.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the decision on Wednesday, stating that while Canada had long backed a negotiated two-state solution, the current circumstances have rendered that path “no longer tenable.”
“Canada intends to recognise the State of Palestine at the upcoming UNGA session,” said Carney. “We have always supported a sovereign, independent and viable Palestinian state living peacefully alongside Israel. But the situation in Gaza has made inaction unacceptable.”
Carney underscored that this recognition hinges on the Palestinian Authority undertaking necessary reforms. “Canada will also increase its support for democratic governance in Palestine and help build a future of peace and opportunity for its people,” he said.
He stressed that “a stable and viable Palestinian state is essential for any lasting peace in the region,” and directly criticised the Israeli government, stating, “The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable. Canada condemns Israel’s failure to prevent this humanitarian crisis.”
This decision aligns Canada with the United Kingdom and France, which also announced recognition of Palestine earlier this month. However, Carney clarified that the militant group Hamas “can have no role in the future state.”
He emphasized the urgency of the move, describing the prospect of Palestinian statehood as “literally receding before our eyes.”
The United States, in contrast, has firmly opposed such recognitions, arguing that they reward Hamas. The U.S. has continued to offer unflinching support to Israel despite mounting global outrage and accusations of genocide.
Since the beginning of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza in 2023, over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed and much of the territory has been reduced to rubble.
