Canada decides to acknowledge Palestine as a sovereign nation
In a significant move, Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada announced the recognition of Palestine as a state, joining France's decision from the previous week. This decision comes amidst the continued deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, where over 59,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 143,000 injured since October 2023.
The Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry has criticized the decision, viewing it as a reward for the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas. They believe that the recognition could hinder the release of hostages held by Islamists in the Gaza Strip and damage efforts to achieve a ceasefire.
Carney, however, has stated that he cannot currently imagine changing his decision. He said, "If there were no scenario, we would act immediately." His statement about the recognition of Palestine is a statement of intent from the Canadian government.
The Israeli government has condemned Canada's decision, with the conflict escalating despite ceasefire talks. While a 60-day ceasefire was announced by Israel on 1 July 2025 and Hamas expressed conditional openness to it, no concrete agreement has been finalized. Hostilities, including ambushes by Hamas near buffer zones and violence around aid sites, persist amid ongoing instability and strategic maneuvers by both sides.
The situation in the West Bank and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip have been condemned by international bodies. At the United Nations in late July 2025, Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that a two-State solution remains the only viable path for peace and warned against a one-State reality marked by inequality and occupation. He called urgently for an immediate, permanent ceasefire, unconditional release of hostages, and full humanitarian access.
Canada joined a joint statement with over 30 countries and the EU on 21 July 2025, strongly condemning Israel’s restrictive aid delivery model in Gaza and the denial of essential humanitarian assistance. The statement demands respect for international humanitarian law, condemns the killing of civilians including children seeking aid, and calls for an end to the war and negotiated release of hostages.
Canada's recognition of Palestine aligns with growing international pressure for a political and humanitarian resolution. However, the conflict remains dire on the ground, with uncertain prospects for lasting ceasefire or peace without sustained diplomatic engagement and scaled humanitarian aid. Canada plans to recognize Palestine as a state at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2025, becoming the first G7 country to join France's announcement.
Sources:
- BBC News
- Amnesty International
- United Nations
- Canadian Press
- The discussion of politics and general news continues to surround the conflict between Israel and Palestine, with Canada's recognition of Palestine as a state drawing attention among war-and-conflicts reports.
- The Canadian government's decision to recognize Palestine is not isolated, aligning with growing international pressure for a political and humanitarian resolution in war-and-conflicts news.
