Canadian PM Mark Carney says his country will join France and UK in recognising Palestinian state

Canada will join the UK and France in recognising a Palestinian state at the United Nations in September, Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced.

Mr Carney said the planned move was predicated on the Palestinian Authority’s commitment to reforms, including commitments to fundamentally reform its governance and to hold general elections in 2026 in which Hamas can play no part.

“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,” he said in a statement.

“For decades, it was hoped that this outcome would be achieved as part of a peace process built around a negotiated settlement between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority. Regrettably, this approach is no longer tenable.”

Canada had long stated it would only recognise a Palestinian state at the conclusion of peace talks with Israel.

But Mr Carney said the reality on the ground, including starvation of citizens in Gaza, meant “the prospect of a Palestinian state is literally receding before our eyes”.

Among the reasons, he said, were “the pervasive threat of Hamas terrorism to Israel,” accelerated settlement building across the West Bank and East Jerusalem and a vote by the Knesset calling for the annexation of the West Bank.

“Canada condemns the fact that the Israeli government has allowed a catastrophe to unfold in Gaza,” he said.

Israel rejected the announcement, with its Foreign Ministry labelling it a “reward for Hamas” that “harms the efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of the hostages”.

Canada’s move came a day after British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK would recognise Palestine in September if Israel did not make significant progress in ending the war in Gaza.

France was the first country to move on the issue last week, with Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron revealing his country would formalise its decision to recognise Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Pressure is now growing on Australia’s Labor government over whether it, too, will join the push.

On Thursday morning, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said it was a matter of “when, not if” Australia would recognise a Palestinian state but that would include important conditions such as the release of hostages and ensuring no role for Hamas in future statehood arrangements.

“I do. I think it’s a matter of when, not if, Australia recognises a Palestinian state,” he said.

“There are a number of obstacles still in the way to recognition of a Palestinian state. For example, the treatment, the release, of the hostages, making sure that there’s absolutely no role for Hamas. These are the sorts of things that the international community is working through.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese discussed the issue in an overnight phone call with the UK Prime Minister.

“Prime Minister Albanese updated Prime Minister Starmer on Australia’s aid contribution and commitment to continue increasing aid to Gazans. He reiterated Australia’s long standing and strong support for a two state solution,” a statement on the discussion read.

“Prime Minister Starmer laid out the UK’s framework for taking forward recognition of Palestine as a driver for peace and the latest on the UK’s involvement in delivering aid.”

- with Reuters