Joining UK and France, Carney says Canada will recognise Palestine at UN meet if 'key criteria are met'

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced his country’s intent to formally recognise the State of Palestine during the UN General Assembly in September, aligning Ottawa with a rising international push for Palestinian statehood recognition led by France and backed by several Western democracies.

The announcement comes in the wake of The New York Call, a joint declaration co-signed by 15 countries including France, the UK, New Zealand, and Australia. Released by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Wednesday, the statement said signatories “have already recognised , have expressed or express the willingness or the positive consideration of our countries to recognise the State of Palestine”.

While countries like Iceland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, Slovenia, and Spain have already extended recognition to Palestine, others, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Andorra, Portugal, Luxembourg, and San Marino, are now considering formal steps.

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French President Emmanuel Macron recently said France would recognise Palestinian statehood “in the near future”, further amplifying the diplomatic push.

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Prime Minister Carney later clarified that Canada’s recognition is conditional. Speaking after a virtual cabinet meeting focused on the Middle East, he said Canada would formally recognise Palestine if key criteria were met.

“We will recognise the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September if certain conditions are fulfilled,” Carney stated, adding that the Palestinian Authority must hold democratic elections in 2026, without the participation of Hamas, and commit to governance reforms.

He also demanded that Hamas release all hostages, disarm, and play no role in any future Palestinian government.

Israel rejects pressure campaign

In response, Israel’s ambassador to Canada, Iddo Moed, rejected Ottawa’s stance, calling it part of a “distorted campaign of international pressure”.

“We will not sacrifice our very existence by permitting the imposition of a jihadist state on our ancestral homeland that seeks our annihilation,” Moed said, referring to Hamas, which took control of Gaza in 2007.

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Carney’s comments come as pressure builds on Israel to end its military operations in Gaza, which began in October 2023 following a Hamas-led attack that killed around 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in more than 250 hostages. The Hamas-run health ministry claims over 60,000 people have since been killed in Gaza during the Israeli offensive.

UK, US, and Australia weigh in

Earlier, on Tuesday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain would also move to recognise Palestine in September, unless Israel takes “substantive steps” to end the crisis in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire, and revive the two-state solution framework.

US President Donald Trump initially adopted a neutral tone, saying, “I don’t mind [Starmer] taking a position. I’m looking for getting people fed right now.” But later, while aboard Air Force One, he criticised the decision: “You could make the case that you’re rewarding Hamas if you do that… And I’m not about to do that.”

Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government was considering the timing of recognition to ensure it could be used as a diplomatic lever to revive negotiations.