Canada ready to recognize Palestine as a state in the fall

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada intends to recognize the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September, provided that the Palestinian Authority holds elections in 2026 and excludes Hamas. The new state must also be demilitarized.

Carney stressed that maintaining the two-state solution requires support from moderates and reforms. He reported talks with President Mahmoud Abbas, who has promised elections and reforms.

The decision has drawn sharp criticism from Israel and the Conservative Party of Canada, which believes that recognizing Palestine will “legitimize terrorism” and strengthen the position of Hamas. The Israeli ambassador called the move a “dangerous precedent” amid the lack of accountable institutions in the Palestinian structures.

At the same time, representatives of the NDP and the Muslim community of Canada called it a historic moment, also calling for an arms embargo on Israel and increased pressure to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

According to Carney, recognition of Palestine is an attempt to save the idea of peaceful coexistence against the backdrop of growing violence, the blockade of Gaza, the expansion of Israeli settlements and a political impasse. He added that recognition is not the end goal, but only a step towards long-term peace.

Earlier, 173 former Canadian diplomats also called for recognition of Palestine, sanctions against settlements and the creation of a humanitarian corridor to Gaza.