Canada Recognizes State of Palestine at UN With Conditions

Canada formally recognised the State of Palestine on Sunday, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced, saying the move at the United Nations General Assembly is intended to bolster the prospects for a two state solution while remaining conditional on commitments from the Palestinian Authority. Carney said Ottawa will press for governance reforms, general elections in 2026 that exclude Hamas from participation, and the demilitarization of a future Palestinian state, and he repeated that recognition does not equate to immediate normalization of diplomatic relations.

"Canada recognises the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel," Carney said in a statement carried by Reuters. He added that recognition is intended to empower those who seek peaceful coexistence and the end of Hamas, and that it in no way legitimizes terrorism.

The announcement aligns Canada with a growing number of Western and other countries preparing similar steps at the UN General Assembly, including France and Australia, while drawing sharp criticism from Israel and the United States. Israeli Prime Minister...