Canada has announced plans to officially recognize the State of Palestine during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September, marking a major shift in foreign policy and increasing global pressure on Israel amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Wednesday that Canada can no longer ignore the suffering in Gaza, where widespread hunger and violence have escalated since the war began in late 2023.
“The prospect of a Palestinian state is literally receding before our eyes,” Carney told reporters.
“Canada condemns the fact that the Israeli government has allowed a catastrophe to unfold in Gaza.”
Carney’s announcement follows similar declarations from France and the United Kingdom, both of which have said they may recognize Palestine if the war in Gaza does not end by September. France has already confirmed its support, while the UK has linked its recognition to a ceasefire by then.
These developments reflect a growing global frustration over Israel’s restrictions on aid to Gaza and what many nations now see as a lack of accountability for the humanitarian disaster.
“This is a shift in how Western countries view the Palestinian cause,” said Gaza resident Saed al-Akhras.
“Palestinians have lived for more than 70 years under killing, destruction, and occupation while the world watches in silence.”
Canada’s recognition, Carney clarified, is conditional upon governance reforms by the Palestinian Authority, which has committed to holding general elections in 2026. Canada insists that Hamas will not be part of the future leadership.
However, the move has triggered swift backlash from Israel and the United States.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said:
“The change in Canada’s position rewards Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of hostages.”
A White House official echoed the sentiment, saying President Donald Trump believes recognizing a Palestinian state now is effectively “rewarding terrorism.” Trump has not commented publicly but is expected to discuss the matter with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who is heading to Israel on Thursday.
The war, which began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas launched deadly attacks in southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, has left Gaza devastated.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry:
Over 60,000 people have died, many of them civilians.
Starvation has claimed 154 lives, including at least 89 children, with many more malnourished.
Aid deliveries remain critically low despite Israel’s partial 10-hour daily pauses to allow limited humanitarian access.
In one heartbreaking case, a 2-year-old girl suffering from brain swelling died from hunger due to the lack of medical-grade milk, her father told Reuters.
“She starved. We stood helpless,” said Salah al-Gharably from Deir al-Balah.
The State of Palestine has held non-member observer status at the U.N. since 2012, and is recognized by more than 140 of the 193 UN member states. Canada’s decision, though largely symbolic, is expected to shift diplomatic pressure toward reviving the two-state solution.
Experts warn that while symbolic, these recognitions risk straining relations with Israel, one of Canada’s long-time allies.
“Recognition of Palestine is intended to pressure Israel back into serious peace talks,” said Jonathan Panikoff, a former U.S. intelligence officer.
“But it could also damage Canada’s diplomatic leverage if done without coordination.”
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that security must remain under Israeli control, calling any Palestinian state a threat to Israel’s existence. Some members of his far-right coalition have even called for annexing parts of Gaza and reestablishing Jewish settlements there.
With global diplomacy hanging in the balance, the international community is increasingly split between those demanding immediate recognition of Palestinian statehood and those warning that such moves may derail hostage negotiations and fuel more instability.
Still, with France, Britain, and now Canada stepping forward, the pressure is mounting on Israel and its allies to chart a new path toward peace—one that could include a sovereign Palestine.
