Canada backs Palestinian statehood at UN

Department of Research, Studies and International News31-07-2025

In a bold geopolitical shift, Canada has announced its plan to formally recognise the State of Palestine during the upcoming 80th United Nations General Assembly session in September 2025. Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed the decision on Wednesday, aligning Canada with a growing group of nations challenging the ongoing Israeli occupation and aggression in Gaza and the West Bank.

This declaration reflects growing international frustration over the United States’ unwavering support for Israel’s military actions, which have resulted in the deaths of over 60,000 Palestinians and the destruction of much of Gaza since the war began in 2023. Despite mounting global condemnation and accusations of war crimes by Israeli forces, Washington continues to back Tel Aviv unconditionally.

Carney stated that Canada had long believed in achieving a two-state solution through negotiations. However, that approach, he admitted, has become “no longer tenable” given the persistent Israeli defiance of international law and the violent expansion of settlements in occupied Palestinian territories.

“Canada intends to recognise the State of Palestine at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly,” Carney announced, signalling a sharp departure from past diplomatic neutrality. He noted that this recognition would be contingent upon internal reforms by the Palestinian Authority, including a pledge by President Mahmoud Abbas to hold general elections in 2026.

While Carney’s announcement was cautiously welcomed, he stirred controversy by declaring that Hamas would be excluded from any future Palestinian government or electoral process. This stipulation raises concerns about the integrity and inclusivity of the democratic transition, especially as Hamas remains a significant political force in Gaza. Critics argue that barring a major faction undermines the essence of a free and representative vote.

Carney’s emphasis on “standing with all people who choose peace over violence or terrorism” was clearly aimed at distancing his government from resistance groups, but it also echoed the language often used by Western powers to delegitimise anti-occupation movements.

US dismisses recognition efforts

As expected, the United States has categorically rejected these recent recognitions of Palestinian statehood. President Donald Trump, an ardent supporter of the Israeli regime, mocked French President Emmanuel Macron’s similar announcement, saying, “What he says doesn’t matter.” He also brushed off the UK’s recognition of Palestine, insisting such moves only “reward Hamas,” revealing the American leadership’s unwillingness to acknowledge Palestinian sovereignty unless dictated by Israeli interests.

Under Trump and his allies, Washington has actively shielded Israel from accountability while ignoring credible reports by UN bodies and human rights organizations that point to acts of genocide and systemic ethnic cleansing. The US position remains an outlier on the global stage, increasingly isolated as more nations express solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

Calls for accountability in Canada

Despite Canada’s symbolic recognition, activists and advocacy groups argue that words must be followed by action. A recent investigation based on Israeli tax records revealed that Canadian arms exports to Israel have continued, even after Ottawa claimed to have stopped issuing new permits over human rights concerns.

In response, several advocacy groups accused the Canadian government of misleading the public and demanded an immediate cancellation of all arms export licences. They described Ottawa’s defence of its policies as a “web of lies” crafted to dodge accountability.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims welcomed the announcement of Palestinian recognition but urged the government to go further. “Canada must continue to stand by our values to drive an independent foreign policy,” the council said, drawing a stark comparison between Israeli expansionism and the Trump administration’s coercive rhetoric that once suggested making Canada the 51st US state.

They called on Ottawa to impose sanctions on the Netanyahu government, enforce a complete arms embargo, review the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement, and step up efforts to reunite families separated by the war in Gaza.

A turning point?

Canada’s decision to side with Palestine at the UN may signal a broader realignment among some Western states, increasingly unwilling to provide cover for Israel’s violations of international law. However, without concrete actions such as sanctions, arms embargoes, and support for Palestinian refugees, recognition alone risks becoming a hollow gesture.

In a world where power politics often overshadows justice, the stance taken by Canada, however imperfect, reflects a growing resistance to US-Israeli dominance. It marks a moment of cautious hope for advocates of Palestinian self-determination and a challenge to the hegemony of those who treat international law as optional.