• Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says Ottawa will recognize a Palestinian state at the UN in September 2025, citing Israel’s Gaza war and failed peace efforts. He joins leaders in the UK and France, though President Trump calls it a reward for Hamas. Canada also faces pressure to suspend arms exports to Israel.

OTTAWA, Ontario (TDR) — In a landmark shift in foreign policy, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Wednesday that Canada will formally recognize the state of Palestine during the upcoming 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September. The decision aligns Canada with a growing list of Western nations frustrated by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the long-stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Carney said that while Canada had long supported a negotiated two-state solution, the deteriorating situation on the ground rendered that framework “no longer tenable.”

“Canada intends to recognise the state of Palestine at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025,” Carney declared during a press conference in Ottawa.

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This marks a profound pivot from Canada’s traditionally cautious approach to Middle East diplomacy. The shift follows similar announcements by the United Kingdom and France earlier this month, reflecting mounting international impatience with Israel’s continued military campaign in Gaza and its expansion of settlements in the West Bank.

Conditional recognition and reform expectations

Carney emphasized that Canada’s recognition is contingent upon democratic reform within the Palestinian Authority, including a commitment from President Mahmoud Abbas to hold general elections in 2026.

“Preserving a two-state solution means standing with all people who choose peace over violence or terrorism,” Carney said. He made clear that Hamas, the Islamist militant group that governs Gaza, “can play no role in the future of Palestine.”

Critics, however, warn that excluding Hamas from any future electoral process could undermine the legitimacy of Palestinian democracy. Still, Carney’s remarks underscored Ottawa’s intent to distinguish between political reform and militant extremism.

U.S. opposition and Israeli tensions

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Canada’s move stands in sharp contrast to the position of the United States. President Donald Trump has repeatedly rejected Western recognition of a Palestinian state, calling it a “reward” for Hamas and a “distraction” from the fight against terrorism.

“You could make the case that you’re rewarding people, that you’re rewarding Hamas if you do that. I don’t think they should be rewarded. I’m not in that camp, to be honest,” Trump said earlier this month in response to France’s announcement.

Trump also confirmed that the issue was not discussed during his recent meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland, dismissing the UK’s recognition initiative as “not important.”

The Trump administration continues to offer unwavering support for Israel, even amid growing international allegations of war crimes and genocide. Since 2023, the Israeli military has been accused of killing more than 60,000 Palestinians and displacing hundreds of thousands in Gaza. Vast swaths of the enclave have been leveled in the ongoing conflict.

Arms trade and public pressure

The announcement from Ottawa comes amid intensifying scrutiny over Canada’s arms exports to Israel. While the federal government halted new permits for weapons shipments last year citing human rights concerns, a recent investigative report based on Israeli tax records revealed that Canadian weapons continued to flow to Israel through existing agreements.

Advocacy groups have accused the Canadian government of orchestrating a “web of lies” to avoid accountability. A coalition of organizations, including the National Council of Canadian Muslims, has called for an immediate and total arms embargo on Israel, along with a review of the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement.

“Canada must continue to stand by our values to drive an independent foreign policy, particularly as the same Trump administration that backs the annexation of Gaza also threatens Canada with ideas of a 51st state,” the group said in a statement.

They further urged Ottawa to impose additional sanctions on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government and provide expedited assistance to Palestinians fleeing Gaza, especially those with family ties to Canada.

A growing divide

With France, the United Kingdom, and now Canada endorsing Palestinian statehood, the geopolitical divide over the future of the Middle East appears to be deepening. Whether these recognitions can meaningfully alter the trajectory of the war in Gaza or push Israel back to the negotiating table remains uncertain.

Is the West signaling a new world order—or just drawing lines too late?

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