Canada first G7 nation to recognise Palestinian state

Canada became the first G7 nation to recognise a Palestinian state, with Prime Minister Mark Carney saying on Sunday the country “offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future”.

Australia and the UK quickly followed with their own announcements. All three nations had previously signaled they would make the historic recognitions.

International pressure is ramping up on Israel over an unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza and settlement building in the West Bank. The issues will be a major focus at a United Nations meeting this week.

Israel has said recognition would reward Hamas “terror” for the 7 October 2023 attack when 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.

The Palestinian Authority expressed gratitude for the recognitions, saying in a statement on social media that it “considers these courageous decisions to be in line with international law and international legitimacy resolutions”.

Around three-quarters of the UN’s 193 members already recognise a Palestinian state, which has held the status of non-member observer state since 2012.

Carney announded on Sunday that “Canada recognises the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel”.

He also said it is “imperative that Hamas release all hostages, fully disarm, and play no role in the future governance of Palestine”, adding that recognising a State of Palestine led by the Palestinian Authority “in no way legitimises terrorism, nor is it any reward for it”.

Carney said in July that Canada’s recognition would depend on democratic reforms, including the Palestinian Authority holding elections next year without Hamas -a commitment, he said on Sunday, that had been secured.

He added that recognition “in no way compromises Canada’s steadfast support for the State of Israel, its people, and their security – security that can only ultimately be guaranteed through the achievement of a comprehensive two-state solution”, he added.

Every Canadian government since 1947 has supported a two-state solution, believing it “would be eventually achieved as part of a negotiated settlement”, the prime minister, who has been in office since April, said.

“Regrettably, this possibility has been steadily and gravely eroded,” he said.

Carney gave four reasons why he believed that possibility had diminished:

• The “longstanding violent rejection of Israel’s right to exist and a two-state solution” by Hamas
• Accelerated settlement building across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which he said has included settler violence
• A vote by Israeli lawmakers in the Knesset calling for the annexation of the West Bank and the pursuit of a settlement plan
• The Israeli government’s “contribution to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza”

The two-state solution typically refers to the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Israel currently occupies both the West Bank and Gaza, and is in the midst of a ground offensive in Gaza City.

Earlier this week, a UN commission of inquiry concluded Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, which Israel denounced as “distorted and false”.

The move from Canada, the UK and Australia increases a diplomatic split with the US over the issue.

When France announced its intention to recognise a Palestinian state – which is expected to come at a session of the UN General Assembly later this week – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denounced the move as “reckless”.

In a message on social media directed at the UK’s recognition statement, the Israeli foreign ministry said: “Recognition is nothing but a reward for jihadist Hamas.”

“Hamas leaders themselves openly admit: this recognition is a direct outcome, the ‘fruit’ for the October 7 massacre,” it said.