Canada joins France and UK in planning to recognize Palestinian state as gulf with US and key allies grows

Egypt Independent

4 days ago

Canada has joined France and Britain in announcing plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September as international pressure builds on Israel over the ongoing starvation crisis and war in Gaza.
The move leaves the United States increasingly isolated from some of its closest allies on the issue of Israel and how it has conducted its military campaign.
US President Donald Trump blasted Canada's decision, threatening to derail ongoing trade talks with Ottawa.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made the announcement on Wednesday and said that Canada has 'long been committed to a two-state solution' that would see an independent Palestinian state 'living side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security.'
The move follows similar announcements by France, which has said it will recognize a Palestinian state in September, and the UK, which has said that it will too if Israel does not meet conditions that include agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza.
'Canada intends to recognize the state of Palestine at the 80th General Assembly of the United Nations,' Carney told reporters, flanked by Foreign Minister Anita Anand. 'We intend to do so because the Palestinian Authority has committed to lead much needed reform.'
Trump, on Thursday, hinted at blowing up trade talks with Canada over its plans to recognize Palestinian statehood.
'Wow! Canada has just announced that it is backing statehood for Palestine. That will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them. Oh' Canada!!!' he wrote on Truth Social.
His comments come at an intense stage of Canada-US trade negotiations, with a 35 per cent tariff hike threatening to kick in on some Canadian goods if both sides fail to reach an agreement by August 1.
It's only the latest escalation in a dramatic on-and-off trade war with the US's closest trading partner.
However France welcomed Canada's announcement, with the Elysee Palace highlighting that President Emmanuel Macron had discussed the issue with Carney and looks forward to 'working together.'
'We will continue our efforts to encourage others to join this momentum in the run-up to the General Assembly in September,' the Elysee added in a statement.
Israel calls recognition 'reward to Hamas'
In his announcement, Carney added that the Palestinian Authority's President Mahmoud Abbas assured him that his administration will hold long-delayed elections in 2026 in which Hamas will 'play no part.'
'(Abbas) has also committed to not militarizing the state of Palestine,' Carney added.
It comes at a time of renewed international attention on the war in Gaza, especially the ongoing hunger crisis caused by Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid.
'Canada will always steadfastly support Israel's existence as an independent state in the Middle East, living in peace and security,' Carney said. 'Any path to lasting peace for Israel also requires a viable and stable Palestinian state and one that recognizes Israel's inalienable right to security.'
Carney's announcement came after the Canadian leader spoke to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer about Gaza on Tuesday, a fact Carney mentioned on Wednesday.
During their call, the two politicians discussed 'the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian disaster in Gaza, as well as the United Kingdom's statement on the recognition of a Palestinian state,' according to a readout from Carney's office.
Israel's Foreign Ministry quickly 'rejected' Canada's decision in a post on X, calling it a 'reward to Hamas.'
'The change in the position of the Canadian government at this time is a reward for Hamas and harms the efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of the hostages,' the Ministry stated.
'Let us be clear: Israel will not bow to the distorted campaign of international pressure against it,' Israel's Ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed said in an X post from the embassy. 'We will not sacrifice our very existence by permitting the imposition of a jihadist state on our ancestral homeland that seeks our annihilation.'
Both Israel and the US previously criticized the move by France and the UK, saying it rewards Hamas. Last month, Canada joined the UK, Norway, New Zealand and Australia in sanctioning two far-right ministers of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
'We are steadfastly committed to the two-state solution which is the only way to guarantee security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long term stability in the region, but it is imperiled by extremist settler violence and settlement expansion,' a joint statement from the five countries said.
At the time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the sanctions as unhelpful, saying they 'do not advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war.'
The latest declaration about recognizing Palestinian statehood have come as the hunger crisis in Gaza and perils in accessing aid continue to plague the enclave. On Wednesday the Israeli military said its troops fired warning shots in northern Gaza following reports of dozens of aid-seekers killed in the area.
The IDF said it was not aware of any casualties and that the details surrounding the incident are being examined, while Yousef Abu al-Rish, undersecretary of the Gaza Ministry of Health, told CNN at least 60 people were killed and about 600 others were injured in northern Gaza after Israeli forces fired near an aid site on.
This story and headline have been updated with additional developments.