"We intend to recognize the State of Palestine at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025," Carney said at a press conference.
He added, "Canada is working with partners to ensure that the two-state solution becomes viable," adding, "The chances of a two-state solution are fading before our eyes."
Carney denounced the Israeli government's allowing a catastrophe in Gaza and said he spoke with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday.
The Canadian Prime Minister indicated that "Canada's intention is based on reforms, including the Palestinian Authority's commitment to reform its governance, hold general elections in 2026 without Hamas, and demilitarize the Palestinian state."
Israel and America: A reward for Hamas
Israel rejected the Canadian Prime Minister's announcement of his intention to recognize a Palestinian state, saying it represented a reward for the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
"The Canadian government's change of position at this time is a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of the hostages," the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement Thursday morning.
For his part, a White House official said Wednesday that US President Donald Trump believes that recognizing a Palestinian state would be a reward for the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and that he has no intention of doing so, after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced his country's decision on the matter.
"As the president says, he would reward Hamas if he recognized a Palestinian state, and he doesn't think they should be rewarded... so he won't do that," said the White House official, who requested anonymity. "President Trump is focused on getting food to the people in Gaza."
The official did not respond to a question about whether the United States had been informed in advance of Carney's announcement.
France welcomes
In his first public welcome of the decision, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told the Canadian Prime Minister, during a phone call on Wednesday, that he "appreciated" Ottawa's "historic" stance of recognizing the State of Palestine.
The official Palestinian news agency, WAFA, reported that Abbas received a phone call from Carney, during which the latter informed him of his intention to recognize the State of Palestine. The statement noted that the Palestinian president "appreciated Canada's historic position... which will enhance peace, stability, and security in the region," and stressed that "this courageous position comes at an important historical moment to save the internationally supported two-state solution."
The Élysée Palace also announced Wednesday evening that France welcomes Canada's intention to recognize the State of Palestine during the UN General Assembly meetings in September, and will "continue its efforts" to ensure that other countries follow suit.
"We are pleased to be able to work with Canada to revive the prospects for peace in the region. We will continue our efforts to ensure that others join this momentum in the run-up to the General Assembly," the French presidency said in a statement, noting that French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the issue "earlier today" with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that his country would recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly next September unless Israel takes concrete steps to allow aid into Gaza, commits to the two-state solution, and refrains from annexing the West Bank.
Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela also announced on Tuesday that his country will recognize the state of Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly in September.
France and 14 other countries, including Canada and Australia, have called on other countries to declare their intention to recognize the State of Palestine, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Wednesday.
French President Emmanuel Macron previously announced that his country would recognize Palestine as a state during the United Nations General Assembly in New York next September.
