Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Members of the League of Filipino Students (LFS) light candles at the Commission of Human Rights in Quezon City on October 21, 2023 for the thousands killed in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Palestine

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753929975918cropped-Screen Shot 2025-07-31 at 10.44.17 AM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of the League of Filipino Students (LFS) light candles at the Commission of Human Rights in Quezon City on October 21, 2023 for the thousands killed in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>OTTAWA, Canada — Canada plans to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday, a dramatic policy shift that was immediately rejected by Israel.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/25/france-will-recognize-state-of-palestine-says-macron-israel-furious-0817">France will recognize State of Palestine, says Macron; Israel furious</a></div><p>Carney said the move was necessary to preserve hopes of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a long-standing Canadian goal that was &quot;being eroded before our eyes.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Canada intends to recognize the State of Palestine at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025,&quot; the prime minister said.</p><p>It makes Canada the third country, following recent announcements by France and the United Kingdom, that could recognize a Palestinian state in September.</p><p>Carney said the worsening suffering of civilians in Gaza left &quot;no room for delay in coordinated international action to support peace.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/6/6/what-is-genocide-and-is-it-happening-in-gaza-1121">What is genocide and is it happening in Gaza?</a></div><p>Israel blasted Canada&#x27;s announcement as part of a &quot;distorted campaign of international pressure.&quot;</p><p>Asked by reporters if there was a scenario where Canada could change its position before the UN meeting, Carney said: &quot;there&#x27;s a scenario (but) possibly one that I can&#x27;t imagine.&quot;</p><p>Canada&#x27;s intention &quot;is predicated on the Palestinian Authority&#x27;s commitment to much-needed reforms,&quot; Carney said, referring to the body led by President Mahmoud Abbas, which has civil authority in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.</p><p>Carney said his plans were further predicated on Abbas&#x27;s pledge to &quot;hold general elections in 2026 in which Hamas can play no part, and to demilitarize the Palestinian state.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ISRAEL REJECTS MOVE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>With Wednesday&#x27;s announcement, Carney positioned Canada alongside France, after President Emmanuel Macron said his country would formally recognize a Palestinian state during the UN meeting, the most powerful European nation to announce such a move.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/7/28/food-arrives-in-gaza-after-israel-pauses-some-fighting-2036">Food arrives in Gaza after Israel pauses some fighting</a></div><p>The Israeli embassy in Ottawa said &quot;recognizing a Palestinian state in the absence of accountable government, functioning institutions, or benevolent leadership, rewards and legitimizes the monstrous barbarity of Hamas on October 7, 2023.&quot;</p><p>The PA&#x27;s Abbas welcomed the announcement as a &quot;historic&quot; decision, while France said the countries would work together &quot;to revive the prospect of peace in the region.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/7/23/israel-denies-gaza-mass-starvation-accusations-0627">Israel denies Gaza &#x27;mass starvation&#x27; accusations</a></div><p>Canada&#x27;s plan goes a step further than this week&#x27;s announcement by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.</p><p>Starmer said the UK will formally recognize the State of Palestine in September unless Israel takes various &quot;substantive steps,&quot; including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>TWO-STATE SOLUTION</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Carney stressed that Canada has been an unwavering member of the group of nations that hoped a two-state solution &quot;would be achieved as part of a peace process built around a negotiated settlement between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Regrettably, this approach is no longer tenable,&quot; he said, citing &quot;Hamas terrorism&quot; and the group&#x27;s &quot;longstanding violent rejection of Israel&#x27;s right to exist.&quot;</p><p>The peace process has also been eroded by the expansion of Israeli settlements across the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, Carney said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/7/27/un-to-use-humanitarian-pauses-to-try-to-reach-gaza-s-starving-2315">UN to use &#x27;humanitarian pauses&#x27; to try to reach Gaza&#x27;s starving</a></div><p>The prime minister said a two-state solution was growing increasingly remote, with a vote in Israel&#x27;s parliament &quot;calling for the annexation of the West Bank,&quot; as well as Israel&#x27;s &quot;ongoing failure&quot; to prevent humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.</p><p>He framed his decision as one aimed at safeguarding Israel&#x27;s future.</p><p>&quot;Any path to lasting peace for Israel also requires a viable and stable Palestinian state, and one that recognizes Israel&#x27;s inalienable right to security and peace,&quot; Carney said.</p><div><strong>—By Dave Chan with Ben Simon in Toronto, Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V2X0pwd33pA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GCVKJ52CLb4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C6b5fvXEISI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Canada is the third country, following recent announcements by France and the United Kingdom, to recognize Palestine as a state in September.</p>

Canada is the third country, following recent announcements by France and the United Kingdom, to recognize Palestine as a state in September.

Canada to recognize State of Palestine at UN General Assembly

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Canada to recognize State of Palestine at UN General Assembly

Agence France-Presse

Published Jul 31, 2025 10:48 AM PHT

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