Canada will recognize a Palestinian state in September, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters on Wednesday.
“Canada has long been committed to a two-state solution, an independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian state living side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security,” said Carney, flanked by Foreign Minister Anita Anand.
The move follows similar announcements by France, which has said it will recognize a Palestinian state in September, and the UK, which has said that it will too if Israel does not meet conditions that include agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza.
“Canada intends to recognize the state of Palestine at the 80th General Assembly of the United Nations,” Carney said. “We intend to do so because the Palestinian Authority has committed to lead much needed reform.”
Carney added that the Palestinian Authority’s President Mahmoud Abbas assured him that his administration will hold long-delayed elections in 2026 in which Hamas will “play no part.”
