Canada joins France in recognizing Palestinian state

The Palestinian Authority’s foreign ministry on Thursday said it welcomed Canada’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September. The Palestinian Authority, which oversees the West Bank and claims jurisdiction over the Gaza Strip, said the decision reaffirmed international consensus on a two-state solution. France also said last week that it would recognize a Palestinian state at the assembly.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the decision Wednesday. The move would promote the formation of a two-state solution opposed by both Israel and Hamas, he said. The deepening suffering of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip left no time for delay, he said. The Canadian prime minister also reiterated that Canada wants Hamas to disarm and release the Israeli hostages it holds.

Carney also said that the president of the Palestinian Authority made commitments to reform its governance. President Mahmoud Abbas would also hold general elections in 2026—without interference from the Hamas terror group—and demilitarize the Palestinian state, Carney said.

How many United Nations members recognize a Palestinian state? In a May 2024 vote, 143 of the UN’s 193 members recognized a Palestinian state, allowing it to be seated with UN members. Palestine has remained a permanent observer in the international body, allowed to participate but given no voting rights. France’s plans for recognition will leave the United States and Britain as the only UN Security Council permanent members not to recognize a Palestinian state.

What else just happened related to the Israel-Hamas war? The European Union, the Arab League, and 17 countries on Tuesday released a declaration calling for an end to the war. The group, which wrote the agreement at a United Nations conference, endorsed a two-state solution and condemned Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. The document was the first time that Arab nations—including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt—publicly denounced Hamas’ actions. The agreement also said the terror group must release Israeli hostages, disarm, and leave Gaza.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s story on a Samaritan’s Purse airlift of nutrient-dense foods to Gaza.