Canada to Recognize Palestinian State
Canada has announced plans to formally recognize a Palestinian state in September, joining the UK and France in a growing international push for Palestinian statehood amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Prime Minister Mark Carney said the announcement hinges on promised reforms by the Palestinian Authority, including demilitarization and elections that exclude Hamas. “The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable,” Carney said, adding that a two-state solution “is being eroded before our eyes.”
The decision drew praise from allies like France, but sharp backlash from Israel, which called it a “reward for Hamas.” Israel's Foreign Ministry and the Israeli Ambassador to Canada both condemned the decision, insisting it undermines ceasefire efforts and legitimizes terrorism. Meanwhile, nearly 200 former Canadian diplomats urged the government to act, citing the devastation in Gaza and settler violence in the West Bank.
The announcement has also triggered tension with the United States. President Donald Trump warned it would “make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them,” threatening to derail talks ahead of an August 1st tariff deadline. Despite the pressure, Carney insisted that Canada makes its own foreign policy decisions, stating, “Any path to lasting peace for Israel also requires a viable and stable Palestinian state.
