Canada and Australia Announce Plans to Recognize a Palestinian State
Canada, Australia, and others join France and the UK in declaring intent to recognize Palestine at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September
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More countries have announced their intention to recognize a Palestinian state during the upcoming 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Canada's decision is contingent upon significant reforms by the Palestinian Authority, including general elections without Hamas participation in 2026 and the demilitarization of the future Palestinian state.
Carney emphasized the urgency of preserving the two-state solution, saying it is "eroding before our eyes."
Israel’s Foreign Ministry condemned Canada’s announcement, describing the timing as "a reward for Hamas" that undermines ceasefire efforts in Gaza and the release of hostages.
The announcements followed the “Two-State Conference” held at the UN headquarters in New York, led by France and Saudi Arabia. Several foreign ministers issued a joint statement calling for the implementation of a two-state solution and recognized the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Luxembourg, Portugal, San Marino, and others expressed readiness to support recognition. Spain, Ireland, and Norway have already issued formal declarations in recent months.
They welcomed recent commitments by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, including condemnation of the October 7 Hamas attack, calls for disarmament of Hamas, cancellation of payments to prisoners, education reform, and holding elections within a year.
Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon strongly criticized the move, accusing the countries of issuing "empty declarations" while hostages remain captive in Gaza. He said such statements grant legitimacy to terrorism and hinder regional progress.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee expressed support for Israel and emphasized Washington’s pressure on Hamas under President Trump’s leadership. He claimed that Arab nations like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar are also pressing Hamas to end the conflict.