Canada has announced a historic shift in its Middle East policy, declaring its intention to formally recognize the State of Palestine at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in September 2025.
Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed the decision on Wednesday, calling it a necessary departure from Canada’s long-standing commitment to a negotiated peace process.
“For decades, Canada has supported a two-state solution achieved through dialogue and diplomacy. But today, that approach is no longer tenable,” Carney stated.
The announcement comes as Gaza endures a worsening humanitarian crisis and Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank continues to erode the prospects for a viable Palestinian state.
Carney stressed that Canada’s recognition will be conditional, requiring the Palestinian Authority to: Implement comprehensive governance reforms, Hold general elections in 2026, Exclude Hamas from all political participation, a measure that critics warn could complicate democratic legitimacy.
“Preserving the two-state solution means standing with all people who choose peace over terrorism and violence,” Carney declared, framing the move as both a symbolic commitment to peace and a strategic effort to keep the two-state vision alive.
Still, uncertainty lingers over whether such recognition will influence Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza or halt settlement expansion in the West Bank, the two core obstacles to the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state.
