Canada to Recognise Palestinian State at UN General Assembly, Announces PM Carney

In a significant foreign policy shift, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has declared that Canada will officially recognise the State of Palestine during the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025. The move places Canada alongside France and the United Kingdom as the latest Western nations to take formal steps in support of Palestinian statehood.

“This recognition is vital to preserve the viability of a two-state solution, which is visibly deteriorating before our eyes,” Carney stated on Wednesday.

Points of the Announcement

International Reactions

Israeli Response

The Israeli government rejected Canada’s announcement, branding it part of a “distorted campaign of international pressure.” The Israeli embassy in Ottawa released a strongly worded statement:

“Recognising a Palestinian state without credible governance or functioning institutions rewards and legitimises the monstrous barbarity of Hamas on 7 October 2023.”

Palestinian Authority’s Response

President Mahmud Abbas welcomed the announcement, calling it a “historic decision”, while also pledging cooperation on Canada’s conditions for recognition.

France and UK

• France reaffirmed its own plan to recognise Palestine at the same UN session, noting close coordination with Canada to “revive the prospect of peace in the region.”
• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK’s recognition in September remains conditional on “substantive steps” by Israel, including a ceasefire in Gaza.

Two-State Solution: A Shrinking Prospect

Carney acknowledged that Canada’s long-standing support for a negotiated two-state solution is under serious threat:

“Regrettably, this approach is no longer tenable,” he said, citing multiple deteriorating conditions:

Challenges Undermining Peace

Possibility of Policy Reversal?

Asked whether Canada might change its position before the UN vote, Carney was blunt:

“There’s a scenario – but possibly one that I can’t imagine.”

He reiterated that Canada’s move is firm but conditional—dependent on meaningful reforms by the Palestinian Authority, including demilitarisation and electoral restructuring.

This landmark announcement signifies a bold new direction in Canada’s Middle East policy, highlighting growing Western frustration with the stagnant peace process and escalating humanitarian crises across the region.