Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Canada plans to formally recognise a Palestinian state, with the official move set to take place during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in September. The recognition, however, is contingent on the Palestinian Authority (PA) undertaking major reforms, including governance changes and the holding of general elections in 2026—elections in which Hamas would be barred from participating.
Carney acknowledged that hopes for a negotiated two-state solution have been “steadily and gravely eroded” over time, citing factors such as Hamas’s ongoing threats and rejection of a two-state model, escalating settler violence, and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “The deepening suffering of civilians leaves no room for delaying coordinated international action,” he said.
Israel swiftly rejected the Canadian move, labelling it a “reward for Hamas” and arguing that it undermines efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of hostages. The White House echoed that sentiment, with President Donald Trump stating he believes recognising a Palestinian state would reward Hamas and is therefore inappropriate.
Canada joins a growing list of countries, including the UK and France, that are moving toward recognition of Palestinian statehood. Prime Minister Carney noted he had consulted with French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen before making the announcement. Malta also revealed plans to formally recognise Palestine in September.
Australia is aligned with this momentum. On Thursday, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the Australian government considers recognition of a Palestinian state as a matter of “when, not if,” though he did not offer a specific timeline. “There are still significant hurdles to recognition, such as ensuring there is no role for Hamas and addressing the ongoing hostage situation,” Chalmers said.
Currently, the Palestinian territories—comprising Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem—are under Israeli occupation and lack full sovereignty. As a result, recognition of Palestinian statehood is largely symbolic but carries diplomatic weight.
Gazan resident Saed al-Akhras expressed cautious optimism, saying, “Enough! Palestinians have lived for more than 70 years under killing, destruction, and occupation, while the world watches in silence.” He hopes the move signals a genuine shift in how Western nations engage with the Palestinian cause.
Hamas has yet to respond to calls for disarmament or for transferring control to the PA, which currently has only limited governance in parts of the West Bank. Israel continues to oppose any PA role in Gaza.
The conflict’s humanitarian toll continues to rise. Gaza’s health ministry reported seven additional hunger-related deaths on Wednesday, including that of a two-year-old girl with pre-existing health issues. The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas attack that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages. Since then, over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military response, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
