Canada will become the latest nation to recognize a Palestinian state amid the ongoing ‘human suffering’ in Gaza as a result of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday that Canada will formally recognize the state of Palestine in September as part of a broader global shift against Israel‘s policies in Gaza.
He convened a Cabinet meeting to discuss the situation in the battered Palestinian territory.
Carney was inspired to make a change after discussing the crisis with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who announced a similar move on Tuesday.
Scenes of hunger and starvation have trickled out of Gaza amid a longstanding Israeli blockade which is preventing supplies from entering the territory en masse.
‘The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable,’ Carney said.
‘Canada intends to recognize the State of Palestine at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025.’
Carney said the intention is predicated on the Palestinian Authority ‘holding general elections in 2026 in which Hamas can play no part, and to demilitarize the Palestinian state.’
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday that Canada will formally recognize the state of Palestine in September as part of a broader global shift against Israel ‘s policies in Gaza
Scenes of hunger and starvation have trickled out of Gaza amid a longstanding Israeli blockade which is preventing supplies from entering the territory en masse
Pressure to formally recognize Palestinian statehood has mounted since French President Emmanuel Macron announced that his country will become the first major Western power to do so in September.
As with France and the U.K., Canadian recognition would be largely symbolic, but it’s part of a broader global shift against Israel and could increase diplomatic pressure for an end to the conflict.
More than 140 countries recognize a Palestinian state, including a dozen in Europe.
Macron’s announcement last week made France the first Group of Seven country – and the largest in Europe – to take that step.
Canada has long supported the idea of an independent Palestinian state existing alongside Israel, but has said recognition should come as part of a negotiated two–state solution to the conflict.
Carney’s announcement puts him in lockstep with Starmer, who this week said the UK’s recognition of Palestine would go ahead in September ‘unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza.’
Starmer said this included Israel reaching a ceasefire, making clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and committing to a long-term peace process that delivers a two-state solution.
The PM said now was ‘the moment to act’ on recognition of a Palestinian state due to the ‘increasingly intolerable situation in Gaza’.
‘The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable,’ Carney said
Carney was inspired to make a change after discussing the crisis with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who announced a similar move on Tuesday
He ‘reiterated that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas’ and that Britain’s demands on Hamas remain.
This includes the terror group – which carried out brutal attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023 – releasing all remaining hostages, signing up to a ceasefire, accepting they will play no role in the government of Gaza, and disarming themselves.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fiercely opposed the move, saying Starmer has rewarded ‘Hamas’s monstrous terrorism’ while punishing its victims.
‘A jihadist state on Israel’s border today will threaten Britain tomorrow. Appeasement towards jihadist terrorists always fails. It will fail you too. It will not happen,’ the Israeli PM added.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry echoed Netanyahu’s words, adding: ‘The shift in the British government’s position at this time… constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of hostages.’
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .