Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to formally announce that Canada will recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly as the international gathering of world leaders grapples with ongoing unrest in the Middle East.
Other major international allies are expected to join Canada in recognizing an independent Palestinian state during the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week — likely causing agitation for the Trump administration.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has criticized the move, saying it emboldens Hamas — the group that led the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks — and makes negotiating a ceasefire deal and the release of hostages more difficult.
Carney announced in July that Canada would officially recognize the State of Palestine as long as the Palestinian Authority met certain conditions. A news release Friday said Canada is moving forward because of “progress on key reform commitments.”
Senior officials, who were authorized to brief media on the condition they not be named, said Friday that the Palestinian Authority has doubled down on its commitments in communications with Carney and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, including holding an election in 2026 that Hamas cannot participate in.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian has put them in writing and provided updates on near-term actions, such as reforming the education curriculum over concerns about anti-Jewish content and ending the policy that offered financial compensation to the families of those who were killed or jailed during attacks on Israelis.
The Canadian officials noted that some of the pledges will only be realized over the long term, but said Canada sees the Palestinian Authority as the right entity to move those issues forward.
The Palestinian Authority currently controls parts of the West Bank through the Fatah party. Hamas has full control of Gaza. Hamas violently ejected Fatah from Gaza in 2007 and said Thursday it “will not recognize Israel.”
Canada has long called for a “two-state” solution — a Palestinian state existing in peace alongside Israel. For years, Ottawa suggested recognition would only come at the end of peace talks between Palestinian and Israeli leaders.
With the spread of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the high death toll of Israel’s bombardment in Gaza drawing condemnation from around the world, Canada and other countries began announcing the intention to recognize the Palestinian state sooner.
The officials said Canadian and Israeli diplomats have been in regular communication. The officials said Carney has never spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since taking office in March, but said there have been unsuccessful attempts to schedule a call.
They said Carney did briefly meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in May during Pope Leo’s inauguration in Rome.
Netanyahu and members of his government vehemently oppose a two-state solution.
While Ottawa hopes the move won’t bring retaliation, the officials said preserving a two-state solution is important to Canada’s interests.
U.S. President Donald Trump responded to Carney’s July announcement by saying that Canada’s move to recognize a Palestinian state would jeopardize a trade deal. Days later, the president increased tariffs on Canada to 35 per cent. Those duties do not apply to goods compliant under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade.
Carney’s July announcement also brought mixed reactions in Canada. The Jewish Community Council of Montreal said it was “deeply dismayed” and called on Carney to reverse course. Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East also expressed concerns around Carney putting conditions on recognizing a Palestinian state.
France, Australia, Belgium, Portugal and the United Kingdom are among the countries also expected to recognize a Palestinian state during the general assembly — a move largely considered symbolic but one that could pull the ire of the Trump administration.
French President Emmanuel Macron is co-hosting a meeting on the sidelines with Saudi Arabia which could include countries that have already recognized Palestine and those who have not yet done so but intend to at some point.
More than 145 countries already recognize a Palestinian state.
Last week, the United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that demanded an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas. American officials said the resolution didn’t go far enough in condemning Hamas.
After Rubio revoked the visas of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other officials, the UN General Assembly also voted to allow Abbas to make an address by video.
Carney is scheduled to meet with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and CEOs in New York on Sunday.
— With files from Dylan Robertson in Ottawa
