On Wednesday, both Canada and Malta declared their intentions to formally recognize the state of Palestine during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly scheduled for September. This announcement aligns them with France and the United Kingdom, who had previously signaled similar intentions.
International response to the Gaza crisis
This decision to acknowledge Palestine as a sovereign state emerges amid a renewed effort across Europe to compel Israel to cease its ongoing military operations in Gaza. These actions have precipitated a humanitarian crisis characterized by widespread starvation and suffering in the region, as well as to halt the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
“The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable,” said Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, following a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, underscoring the necessity of international collaboration for lasting peace in the area.
Prime Minister Carney further articulated Canada’s long-standing commitment to a two-state solution, emphasizing the vision of a viable and sovereign Palestinian state coexisting peacefully alongside Israel. He indicated that Canada’s recognition is contingent upon seeing “much-needed reforms” within the Palestinian Authority, including the organization of general elections scheduled for 2026, which would notably exclude the militant group Hamas. “Canada will increase its efforts in supporting strong democratic governance in Palestine,” he concluded.
Malta’s commitment to Palestinian sovereignty
Meanwhile, Malta has maintained a consistent stance in favor of Palestinian sovereignty and self-determination. Christopher Cutajar, the permanent secretary at Malta’s Foreign Ministry, made the announcement during a UN conference focused on advancing the two-state solution. He emphasized, “As responsible actors, we have a duty to work to translate the concept of a two-state solution from theory into practice.”
This development follows the UK’s recent announcement by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, indicating that the United Kingdom will also officially recognize Palestine before the gathering of world leaders at the 193-member General Assembly in September. French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed France’s decision to formalize recognition earlier, positioning France as the first G7 nation and the first permanent member of the UN Security Council to take this step.
Currently, 147 member states of the United Nations, including ten EU member states, have recognized the state of Palestine. Recognition entails acknowledging Palestine’s sovereignty and independence within its pre-1967 borders, which encompass the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. This move is met with resistance from Israel, which has traditionally opposed a two-state solution and opted to boycott the UN conference held in New York, alongside its primary ally, the United States.