Canada will formally recognise Palestine in UN

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada will formally recognize Palestine in the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025.

• The recognition is conditional on the Palestinian Authority (PA) committing to reforms, including holding general elections in 2026 where Hamas is excluded, and the demilitarization of the Palestinian state.

UK’s Announcement

• On July 29, Britain also announced its intention to recognize Palestine in September, with its recognition being conditional on Israel taking substantive steps towards a ceasefire and a long-term, sustainable peace.

Path to UN Membership for Palestine

• Current Status: Palestine currently holds the status of a “Permanent Observer State” at the UN. This allows it to participate in most debates and sessions but does not grant it the right to vote on resolutions.
• Full Membership Requirements: To become a full UN Member State, Palestine would need to:
  1. Receive a recommendation from the UN Security Council.
  2. Secure a two-thirds majority vote in the General Assembly.
• Veto Power: The five permanent members (P5) of the Security Council—the US, UK, France, Russia, and China—can veto any membership application. The United States has previously used its veto power to block Palestine’s bid for full membership, most recently in April 2024.

Global Recognition

• Currently, 147 out of 193 UN member countries recognize the state of Palestine.
• Most nations in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, including India, have long recognized Palestine. India was one of the first countries to do so in 1988.
• Several major Western countries, including the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Australia, have not granted formal recognition. The recent announcements by the UK, Canada, and France mark a significant shift in this stance.

(Source: UN)