Canadian PM to recognize Palestinian state

 

 

 

PP Cherian Dallas

OTTAWA: Canada is preparing to recognize a Palestinian state ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in September, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced in Ottawa on Wednesday. He blamed the Israeli government's "persistent failure" to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza for the decision.

"The growing suffering of ordinary people leaves no room for delay in coordinated international action to support peace, security and the dignity of all human life," Carney said.

The recognition is based on the Palestinian Authority's commitment to reform its governance and hold general elections in 2026. "Hamas will have no role in that," Carney said. The prime minister said he had explained the conditions to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas before the announcement. Carney reiterated that Hamas must immediately release all hostages and disarm.

Israel's protest:

Israel condemned Canada's statement. "The Canadian government's change of position at this time is a reward for Hamas, and it harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and the framework for the release of hostages," the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Carney's announcement came after France and the United Kingdom announced similar commitments. It is seen as a significant shift in Canada's foreign policy.

Humanitarian crisis in Gaza:

Carney described the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as "deplorable" earlier this week. The UN World Food Program and UNICEF warned that food consumption and nutrition indicators in Gaza have reached their worst levels since the conflict began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. "Gaza is on the brink of famine. This is not a warning, it is a reality unfolding before our eyes," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday.

Canada has joined European leaders in taking a tough stance against Israel to speed up humanitarian aid. An October 7 attack by Hamas killed nearly 1,200 people and abducted 251. Hamas still holds about 50 hostages, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive. The Gaza Health Ministry said Israel's retaliatory attacks have killed an estimated 60,000 Palestinians, more than half of whom were women and children.

Other countries' stance:

French President Emmanuel Macron was the first to announce his recognition of a Palestinian state. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer followed suit after meeting his cabinet on Tuesday. He pledged that the UK would recognize a Palestinian state by September unless the Israeli government took “substantial steps” to end the crisis in Gaza and committed to a long-term peace process that would provide for a two-state solution.

Starmer discussed his decision with Carney on Tuesday. On Wednesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrett called for more countries to do the same. Canada is the third G7 country to make such a declaration.

On Monday, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand was in New York to attend a United Nations conference on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. At the two-day conference, boycotted by Israel and the US, Anand announced a new humanitarian aid package. It includes C$30 million to help Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, and C$10 million to the Palestinian Authority to implement governance reforms for final statehood.