Canada is set to formally recognize a Palestinian state this September, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced, following similar declarations from the UK and France in recent days. The move makes Canada the third G7 country to back Palestinian statehood in the wake of the ongoing war in Gaza.

Carney said the decision would be conditional, hinging on key democratic reforms by the Palestinian Authority, including the holding of elections without the participation of Hamas. He stated that Canada would extend official recognition during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session.

Speaking at a press conference, Carney cited a series of humanitarian and political developments that prompted Canada’s policy shift. These included the growing expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel.

“The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable and it is rapidly deteriorating,”

said Carney, adding that the reality on the ground is making the idea of a Palestinian state harder to imagine with each passing day.

Israel’s foreign ministry reacted sharply, rejecting Canada’s move and calling it “a reward for Hamas.” In a statement posted on X, the ministry claimed the recognition undermines efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and delays the release of Israeli hostages.

Canada’s Conservative Party also criticized the announcement, arguing that it sends the wrong message in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks. “Recognizing a Palestinian state in the aftermath of the October 7 terrorist atrocities sends the wrong message to the world,” the opposition said.

Despite the backlash, Carney held his position, saying that Canada

“condemns the fact that the Israeli government has allowed a catastrophe to unfold in Gaza.”

The Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party, governs parts of the West Bank. However, no elections have been held in the Palestinian territories since 2006, and Hamas remains in control of Gaza. Carney’s statement stressed that upcoming elections must exclude Hamas in order to ensure legitimacy and pave the way for recognition.

Canada joins the growing international momentum toward Palestinian statehood, with 147 of the 193 United Nations member states already recognizing it. Carney’s decision is seen as part of a broader shift in foreign policy among Western powers frustrated by the deteriorating situation in Gaza and the lack of progress on a two-state solution.