Rabat — Canada has joined other European countries in recognizing the Palestinian state ahead of the United Nations General Assembly, which is starting this week in the US.
The announcement comes as the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have launched a land offensive to fully occupy genocide-torn Gaza.
As the situation is worsening in the enclave with the Israeli-induced famine claiming more and more lives – most of them being children – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement today recognizing the Palestinian state.
The statement also expressed Canada’s promise to offer “partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel.”
Implicitly deploring the critical situation in Gaza and Palestine, the Canadian prime minister decried Israel’s methodical work to “prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established.”
However, as with other Western nations, the prime minister had a more nuanced stance when it comes to the Palestinian resistance group Hamas. In response to Israel’s long-standing excuse that Palestine should not exist because of Hamas, Carney said that “recognizing the State of Palestine, led by the Palestinian Authority, empowers those who seek peaceful coexistence and the end of Hamas.”
He also said that Canada’s move does “in no way legitimize terrorism, nor is it any reward for it.”
The statement also expressed the Palestinian Authority’s ”direct commitments” to Canada that it will work on reforming its governance and hold elections next year, with Hamas playing no part in that.
The Canadian prime minister also indicated that the Palestinian Authority promised to have a “demilitarized” state.
A merely symbolic move for the “strong friend to Israel”?
The move comes with a mix of optimism mixed with skepticism in terms of Canada’s stance in support of the Palestinian cause. Canada has historically firmly supported Israel’s right under international law to defend its citizens from attacks, as well as “to peace and secure borders.”
In 2011, Canada joined a firmly pro-Israel bloc comprised of the US and a group of nations that normally follow Washington’s policy decisions. From then onward, Canada opposed almost all motions favoring Palestinians or criticizing Israel over the years.
In 2015, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Canada “must always be a strong, true friend of Israel,” in a campaign speech, and the relationship with Tel Aviv remained strong. However, over the years, and especially since the start of Israel’s genocide on Gaza in October 2023, the relations started to change.
Trudeau waited longer than many other Western powers to denounce Israel when news broke of heightened illegal settler violence in the West Bank, and even as the death toll started to soar in Gaza. Trudeau’s stance only truly started to change its tide when Israel’s starvation campaign became such mainstream headlines it was impossible for him to ignore in the face of a massive dissent in local public opinion. In July 2024, Trudeau called for a ceasefire.
Despite the different allegiances to the Israeli government, Canada has recognized the Palestinians’ right to self-determination and backed the creation of an independent, viable, democratic Palestinian state, with a negotiated, comprehensive peace settlement alongside Israel.
Canada’s announcement follows suit with the UK and Australia, who also declared their recognition today. However, despite the symbolic support, without further action, these are basically dead letters that would never compel Israel to cease committing war crimes in Gaza.
The move from these countries comes as the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is still deteriorating, with Israel showing no intention of backing off from continuing its relentless and genocidal bloodshed in the enclave.
