Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Canada intends to recognize a Palestinian state at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September.
He said this move will be predicated on the Palestinian Authority carrying out reforms and holding an election next year in which Hamas can play no part.
Carney said Canada has long been committed to a two-state solution but its prospects have been "steadily and gravely eroded."
He said Canada will increase its efforts to support strong, democratic governance in Palestine and build a more peaceful and hopeful future.
The Embassy of Israel released a statement saying it rejects Canada’s endorsement of Palestinian statehood. It said recognizing a Palestinian state in the absence of an accountable government or functioning institutions "rewards and legitimizes the monstrous barbarity of Hamas" on Oct. 7, 2023.
The embassy also said it "punishes Israeli and Palestinian victims of Hamas, vindicates Hamas’ Western sympathizers fuelling antisemitism, and hardens Hamas’ position at the negotiation table at a most critical time."
Ambassador of Israel to Canada Iddo Moed said Israel "will not bow to the distorted campaign of international pressure against it."
The Conservative Party of Canada also criticized the decision. It said recognizing a Palestinian state in the aftermath of the October 7 attack "sends the wrong message to the world."
"If the government recognizes the Palestinian state now, it is impossible that Hamas will not play a central role," the statement says. "Surely, Canadians cannot support validating Hamas with the status of government."
The National Council of Canadian Muslims and community partners are set to speak on Parliament Hill and answer questions from reporters this evening.
France announced last week it will recognize a Palestinian state.
Carney spoke Tuesday with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after Starmer said the U.K. would officially recognize a Palestinian state if Israel does not implement a ceasefire and drastically scale up aid in Gaza.
Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
