Public sentiment regarding the recognition of Palestinian statehood is polarized. Many Canadians express strong support for the recognition, viewing it as an essential moral stance against perceived injustices, while simultaneously rejecting external pressures, particularly from the U.S. and figures like Trump. Conversely, there exists significant frustration and skepticism regarding the conditional approaches of other nations, especially the UK, which many see as hypocritical and inadequate in addressing a pressing humanitarian crisis. Overall, the discourse is infused with a desire for immediate action to support Palestinian rights but is accompanied by concerns over the implications of recognizing statehood without viable governance structures.

Canadian Government

U.S. Government

UK Government

Statehood is the legal prerequisite for many things like closing contracts with a state, it gives a state voting rights in e.g. international institutions, you can name diplomats, issue diplomatic passports, participate in international ventures and much more. 
This is why it is more than just optics - it will have huge impact on the representation capabilities of Palestine

mastermindman99

It doesn’t. The conflict will continue, Hamas won’t surrender, the Palestine Authority will not automatically take over Gaza, other countries won’t send people to distribute aid or enforce Palestine’s sovereignty. The ball is in the court of Hamas and Israel, it’s up to them when the game ends.  

After that, it’ll depend on whether Hamas remains in control of Gaza, or someone else takes control. Then the area of Gaza will either progress or deteriorate.

LogicallyMad

The main point here in my eyes is that it can give them access to international institutions. A recognized state can join global bodies like the UN as a full member (if not blocked by veto powers), and agencies like the International Criminal Court or World Health Organization. These institutions offer platforms for advocacy, legal recourse, and practical support in areas like health, development, and humanitarian aid.

No-Drawer-3653

It won't. This is just the white Europeans pretending to be morally superior. It's all empty promises.

Minimum-Internet-114

Nothing.

The conflict continue with blood to wash away more blood.

Hamas might be gone after the conflict but the new one will rise in its place stem from the current conflict bloodshed.

That’s why war is a zero sum game.

kad202

It's not. just like the aid airdrops right now. everyone know it's meaningless but it's good for virtue signaling.

If anything, the recognition hurts Palestinians. UK announced that they will recognize Palestine in September unless there's a ceasefire. and guess what, the day it was announced, Hamas declined the ceasefire.

Hamas now has no interest to agree for a ceasefure.

YoRt3m

Its symbolic so it really wouldnt change much.

If anyone actually gave a damn about Palestine they would argue for

1. Israeli hostages to be returned.
2. Hamas to be disbanded and replaced with another government.
3. Palestine disarmed. 
4. Israeli settlements disbanded. And the residents relocated to Israel proper.
5. IDF moved to a buffer zone with aerial surveillance. 
6. Some form of import inspections to prevent weapons from being smuggled in and causing another conflict.

There may need to be more conditions to ensure a maintainable an actual lasting peace but thats what I've got off the top of my head.

aqualad33

Its just "thoughts and prayers" on international level.

ThisIsForSmut83

Honestly, it won't. Even if the Palestinians accept a deal for a state, which they never have (they've rejected three amazing deals), as long as Hamas retains power it will immediately self-destruct.

Individual-Stage-620

There are 2 main things that are required for a country to exist:
- monopoly of force over a piece of territory
- recognition by other countries

Recognition of Palestine may help with the latter, but it does absolutely nothing for the former.

Personally as someone who supports a 2 state solution I oppose it at this time. It gives a victory to Hamas and sets a precedent that actions like Oct 7 help lead to statehood. Holding out recognition would have provided leverage for Europe to encourage the Palestinaian to accept a deal. Thus paradoxically it may make a resolution less likely. I see it as an emotional rather than pragmatic response by Europe to the suffering in Gaza.

Kind_Complaint7088

People ignoring so many facts. Recognizing them as a state provides several advantages but not the ones the general public think: it reinforces terror groups that if they continue with atrocities and not let go at the end of the day they will get what they want, it gives power to Hamas which is a terror organization funded by a jihadist regime, which means that the people of Gaza will suffer even more because now the people that took over their lives get international recognition. Furthermore, as a country, they have zero capability of supporting the people as it is, as an independent country they won’t have the little that they do get from Israel and Egypt. Bottom line - it’s a recipe for a total disaster.

Apple_ski

Probably not what many expect. To be clear: Taiwan, aka The Republic of China, is not recognized as a state by many nations yet its economy, culture and people thrive. I personally believe that the people of a nation or land have greater impact than those from the outside.

Notofthiscountry

If enough countries do it then the UN will be pressured to recognize it as a country turning the Israeli conflict into an invasion of a foreign country.

Scatmandingo

I don't think it would.  They'd almost immediately be classified as terrorist state and sanctioned.

No_Salad_68

It won't. It will give even more legitimacy to Palestinian extremism cause they learn that their tactics work.

shimadon

First of all, in what borders this "Palestinian state" is being recognized? Without the borders this imaginary state is no better then Narnia.  
Anyways, the entire world can recognize "Palestine" twice a day, it won't change a thing, especially after 7.10.

CougarChaserBC

Which geographical area are they calling Palestine? There are different disconnected parts that could be included.

MrMrsPotts

Well, if it's anything like the last time we did that, on the very first day they exist it'll give them the ability to declare holy war on Israel with the aim of eradicating all Jews from the face of the earth. Which is really all the help they want.

arcxjo

It doesn't lol. 


How can Palestine be a "state" if its led by Hamas, a terrorist group? Who would be the government?

HovercraftNo6046

It's performative to make a statement to Israel and mostly to Trump which worked in the case of the latter because he's flipping his shit over this and demanding countries be pro-Israel or face consequences from the US which I'm sure helps Israel's cause greatly, but no one wants to talk about all of these Trump actions, such as ICE raids, deportations, war on education, war on Harvard, and trade wars being waged in the name of Israel and the Jews.

What could possibly go wrong by not saying "not in our name"?

RidetheSchlange

Being recognized as a state means you can more easily assert international law and is the first step in becoming a member of the UN. Once a UN member, you can apply for all sorts of aid and loans. Mind you- you’re allowed to apply; still doesn’t necessarily mean those applications would be approved.

Not that it’s in Hamas’s immediate interest to be recognized as a state.

EgoSenatus

It gives them more of a voice internationally and delegitimizes Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

BadLineofCode

In addition to the benefits stated, the countries saying they'll recognize Palestine are doing it on the condition that Hamas not be involved in governing Palestine. If only the relatively sane non-genocidal people are running Palestine, they have a chance at peace, which will help them.

DBDude

Nothing helps them except action against israel and the united states

WizardlyLizardy

The short answer: it won’t. 

In most cases it would, but because of Palestine’s own choices and not learning from the past, it won’t help them.

BNTMS233

It turns their Iranian supported terrorist actions into state sponsored terrorist actions .

Fun-Space2942

It's funny because one of the main arguments against Israel is that it was "given to them by the West"

Long-Swordfish3696

Legitimize Palestinian voices and Israel's actions as a violation of international laws

kittizennn

It just puts more pressure on those who haven’t recognized it and the biggest one being the United States. 

It also sends signals of future policy changes. If we assume France recognizes Palestine who knows that’s one step the next step could be less trade with Israel. Less military equipment being sold to them etc..

Charming_Cicada_7757

In theory, it helps because it means that there is a legal, internationally recognised border. If the Israeli government attacked their territory, Palestine's appeals to the UN and other areas would have more impact. It would also be a LOT easier for neighbouring countries to defend Palestine if there were attacks on its territory too. Many states obviously care greatly about their sovereignty. And it would make it much easier for funding, as now it would be going to a state government rather than a non-government which is easily labelled a terrorist organisation. 

In theory, clearly defined borders means Israel could not keep expanding their borders and keep essentially deporting/dehoming people who lived there. And Palestine's reactions to that would be considered somewhat justifiable under international law. Israel's actions currently are under the idea that the land somehow belongs to them. They have a right to it. Having a Palestinian state means having a clearly defined border which would legally present a LOT more hurdles for the Israeli government to jump through in their actions, their bombings, their destruction of homes, and so on. 

In reality, things will be very complex of course. That most Western governments haven't recognised the Palestinian State is telling... they are obviously complicit in this by funding the Israeli bombs being dropped and funding the weapons the Israeli military uses to clear out civilians and kill them. 

Having a clearly defined Palestinian State at least presents more of a challenge under international law to support such actions. And legally would be possible to challenge much more. Regional powers would be able to do a lot more to undermine Western support of Israel if those borders were legally defined under international law. 

But yes... it would be complicated and in reality most likely a war would break out fairly quickly. Both sides would have a LOT of bad blood moving forward.

roymondous

It would enable france to just steer their ships right up to palestines coast and drop off supplies. If Gaza is a recognized country, Israels has no business telling anyone what they can do in international or gazan waters.

BigNorseWolf

icey561

If only they could develop the spine to do the right thing.

Illustrious_Dog_1743

How about we recognize their statehood when they collectively kick the designated terrorist group, Hamas out of power.

Trick_Sandwich_7208

What if.... We didn't get involved in this, and we just did our own thing? 


We seem to be okay to ignore events in Sudan, Myanmar, and the Congo.


There's nothing we can or will actually do to change the course of this conflict one way or another. It'd be nice to focus on things at home and stop wasting our time on the things out of our control. Trudeau wasted ten years doing this shit and got nothing accomplished.

PlasmaticDusk

Canada use to stand on the right side of history even when it wasn’t popular, like South Africa and I don’t want to get into others. But now we have no policy or identity of our own. It seems like it’s “what the uk doing” or “oh no USA will be mad and what are they saying”Carney is also not a good person to be dealing with these issues, he’s a banker and I didn’t expect him to be good at anything other then economy which is why ppl voted liberal. I would love for us to have a leader with a fuckin spine but I don’t expect much from the carney government. Dude also seems close to that idiot in the uk which is not good.

Wise_Ad_112

Israel has blown all the goodwill the west felt for them after October 7th.  We should do this.

Impressive_Bid_8018

I suggest we just stay out of this mess for now

BigButtBeads

No one should recognise them as a state until they have a stable governance system in place.  This can not be a Hamas.  It has to be a democratic government that does not support and promote terrorism, murder, and kidnapping.  And a government that is not aligned with Iran.

abc123DohRayMe

The message received is this: commit a heinous terrorist attack, sacrifice your own people, get what you want.

It’s possible to sanction Israel without reinforcing another negative behavior by a different entity.

BSDnumba123

This would do nothing but reward terror. Either emboldening Hamas, who are still holding hostages, or the Palestinian Authority, who still pay salaries to incentivize people to kill civilians. This would be madness. 

TiredEnglishStudent

um, don’t we have more important things to worry about at the moment?

NasdaqPapi

If we recognize them, can we never hear about them ever again? Please lol.

Bodysnatcher

it is the absolute least we should do, and we're on the fence. shameful

BloodJunkie

This is inevitable. 150+ other countries recognize the State of Palestine, including Spain, Ireland, and Norway. And now, the UK and France will jump on board. Canada should be on the right side of history on this.

Israel's terrorist and genocidal regime can get bent. Canada will do what is right and what is in its interest. Hopefully Canada will soon join the international community on this issue.

Imperatvs

If Palestine were recognized as a state today, it would be a failed state. It has nothing close to an overarching governing structure.

Carney is actually committing funds (10 million) to the Palestinian Authority to help it get there and is insisting on reforms.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-gaza-aid-1.7595966

Dismal_Interaction71

Yellow_Marker_

Good. The sooner we recognize Palestine the better. We must end Israel’s reign of terror. We must end the Palestinian genocide.

cuiboba

If you visit the Palestinian territory, the answer is pretty obvious.

CanadaParties

The United States recognizes Quebec statehood.

DeanersLastWeekend

Likely. But recognition allows for them to directly receive international aid, and allows for the international community to help rebuild Gaza, so it is desperately needed.

PM-ME-UR-DARKNESS

[deleted]

Canada should walk away from the Middle East.  It’s got nothing to do with us and people have been fighting religious wars there for over 1000 years now.  Cut off any government funding to either side.

Hot-Celebration5855

Carney just following the two other stooges. It was inevitable as Trump is the adversary. 
Anyways, doesn't mean anything as the Palestinians themselves don't want two states. This is just a way to reward a terrorist organization.

lbc514

Yes please do, this genocide has to stop

EDIT: Seeing genocide supporters in the main Canada subreddit is appalling, given our history...

LazarusTruth

jimmyFunz

If the UK and France go through with it, their momentum could make this inevitable. I suppose Trump could throw a fit about it and threaten more trade chaos.

frackingfaxer

Stop pretending to care about genocide and focus on issues that affect us.

unapologeticopinions

It’s complicated but essentially the goal of some western countries is to boost the Palestinian Authority who has become rather insignificant and discredited by all parties including Palestinians.

It has also been used to punish Israel for the ongoing famine and continued military operation that even pro-israel countries have been against. 

On the ground it won’t change much and even then, other than maybe France, the recognitions might not go through (a lot can happen until September including US pressure). 

I would generally agree that Hamas is effectively a spent force and now the Arab countries are pushing for the PA to run Gaza while Israel wants to administer it directly with local clan leaders (and possibly annex it). So recognition might at least help make sure that the PA runs Gaza and not Israel. 

But in conclusion it won’t do much to stop the famine or the ongoing genocide, only strong sanctions could do that and no Western country is seriously considering that.

Zaghloul1919

I hate to be pessimistic, but I think at best it's a few voices seeing how that white and blue ethnostate has basically lost whatever little good perception it's had in the world and are trying to takes eyes off the conflict long enough to return to status quo. 

Merely recognizing statehood would be a symbolic victory at best.

Adkhanreddit

Is it drama? Kind of, yes. A lot of things in politics and international relations are drama. But drama affects public opinion, and public opinion can lead to stronger material actions like sanctions, boycotts, and divestment.

There’s a long, long way to go before a just peace in Palestine can happen, but these are steps in that direction.

eternal_student78

Hopefully it means the rest of the world will step up and stop the genocide soon before there is no Gaza.

Organic-Wrongdoer810

They calling for two state solutions but haven't even recognized the Palestinian state. Its all just confusing.

Realityinnit

The fact they are putting conditions on the recognition and one of the conditions is that the resulting Palestinian state be 'demilitarized' makes it useless at best. 

I think they recognize the next generation of leaders hates Israel for what they've done and, before they take over, the old guard want to establish a fact of a splintered 'Palestine' that cannot defend itself and give the genocidal maniacs in Israel a way to claim victory and end the conflict in a way that will relieve the US of sending in massive amounts of aid to keep propping the country up and allow the French and Canadian governments to have propaganda aimed at their own population that they're trying to end the genocide.

They're also trying to shift the conversation so that Hamas is the primary culprit for the genocide rather than Israel by insisting Hamas needs to end itself in order for their to be peace.

Aazih

Even if the direct effect on the ground at this moment in time might be insignificant for the suffering Palestinians, the recognition of the State of Palestine should absolutely happen to begin the process of dismantling the occupation. I think those on the periphery are waking up on the possibility that the zio state might just be thinking of turning against other countries like them who provide cover for the zio regime and the U$ in the region. Those who thought that by appeasing they might be spared might just be staring at the bottom of the barrel and panicking.

karmakameleon888

Nothing much, France still is imperialistic in Africa as we speak so, but with halting arms to Israel and such they’re doing much more then what the UK (where I live) is doing. Truly disappointed, but not suprised with our imperialistic and oppressive history. I wish we had someone like Jeremy Corbyn

SirGallyo

It's almost meaningless, they're under pressure to "do something" knowing full well they have no clout in the region. In terms of what impact this has on Palestinians, well it's a double edged sword. Palestine isn't a state, so calling it a state is more a political statement than some objective assessment.. they have no actual power and cannot protect their borders and are under military occupation.. as a recognized state it will open some doors for them, but it will also put a lot of responsibility on this "demilitarised" state to exert a level of control and diplomacy that is totally unrealistic for a state that lacks any actual power. They'll prop up the PA or some other corrupt group which will back fire massively. And ultimately so long as the US is on the side of Israel, their recognition means nothing. 

It's very clearly about optics, if they genuinely believed Palestine was ready for statehood they wouldn't be making it's recognition as a state conditional on Israel enacting a cease fire.. it's idiotic - what's the message here? That if Israel agrees to a cease fire the Palestinians don't deserve a state anymore? They're playing with fire, putting out these meaninglessness platitudes in the hopes noone calls their bluff or asks them to put their money where their mouth is.. I'm not necessarily saying that recognising Palestine right now is a bad idea, but it's nonetheless a political decision and the intent behind it and end goal isn't clear, and while it could be a good thing I think it could go either way

mo_tag

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Kind of a weird timing. In a way, I don't care about how Trump feels and he'd be butthurt about it. But, Aug. 1st is around the corner...

So yea weird timing. 

That being said, I'd be prouder to be Canadian if we take that stand.

DeathAzuma

I imagine the government would attach so many criteria to the recognition that it would essentially be a continuation of the status quo. 

With all this said, I don't think anything good will come of putting the PA in charge of Gaza. We'll be repeating 20 years of mistakes and probably end up right back where we started. Especially considering the Arab League was moving towards normalisation of relations with Israel before October 7th. 

No one lasts forever and I suspect most high ranking foreign policy officials with long term minds are waiting Netanyahu out because the Arab states are abandoning Palestine. 

The Arab states want to checkmate Iran, Israel is a benefit. Once Netanyahu is gone, I do sadly suspect that the Palestinian cause is dead. So really, I don't see much benefit of making this move. Especially considering we won't change the Middle East, and I don't think antagonising the US right now is a good idea.

Lifeshardbutnotme

Remember when we were at the forefront of U.N. Peacekeeping? Now we are scared to speak up against a genocidal regime because we are afraid it may upset an "ally". Shameful.

jdstew218

I genuinely don’t see a reason why Canada would not do this. It’s obvious this alone wouldn’t piss off the US enough to kill our strategy, nor is that even reliable since Trump is so all over the place we could literally do nothing and something completely out of left field could surprise us and set him off for no reason, so there’s no point in walking on eggshells.

There’s also, of fucking course, a moral issue here that needs to be addressed. Starving children is genuinely insane, and Canada should take a stand

Symmetrecialharmony

&gt; Asked last week whether he would follow France, Carney said Canada will continue to support a two-state solution with "a free and viable Palestine living in peace and side-by-side in peace and security with Israel."

This is such an interesting quote that speaks so much to Carney’s morality. From the start, he obviously doesn’t support a two-state solution, currently; otherwise, he would have already recognized two states. 

But the more important aspect imo is when he says he supports “a free and viable Palestine living in peace and side-by-side in peace and security with Israel." Israel is literally in the middle of manufacturing a famine in Gaza, which Israeli ministers have been quite explicit that that is their intent, which is part of their overall genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, and, in the West Bank, they are violently annexing it and telling the world that that is also their intent. 

And with all of that happening, Carney has done virtually nothing to stop that and has actually continued to arm Israel and support them diplomatically. He even, when speaking of two states, always frames the Palestinians as the ones primarily contributing to the lack of peace. He won’t even acknowledge the genocide is taking place. So is a free and peaceful Palestine one that is empty of Palestinians?

WoodenCourage

Just like Putin's invasion of Ukraine did an amazing job of expanding NATO membership, Bibi's invasion of Gaza seems to be doing a lot for expanding international recognition of Palestine. It's kinda like you catch more flies with honey, than vinegar.

ChimoEngr

This really doesn't make any sense. The longstanding Canadian position is that there should be one but there currently isn't one and that the only way for there to be one is for a negotiated peace to create two viable states that can coexist and recognize one another. Shoulds and oughts don't change reality. There are lots of definitions of a state but the basic premise of a political entity governing a defined territory and population and possessing sovereignty within that territory is just not met. Pretending does not change facts on the ground and it certainly doesn't advance the goal of a long-term negotiated peace and two-state solution.

Rising-Tide

&gt; Trump told reporters he didn't mind Starmer "taking a position" on statehood. But he told reporters on board Air Force One travelling back to the U.S. that recognizing a Palestinian state would reward Palestinian militant group Hamas.

&gt; "You're rewarding Hamas if you do that. I don't think they should be rewarded," he said.

Only if you recognize Hamas as the legitimate government of all of Palestine, which I highly doubt the UK or Canada would even think about doing.

Dragonsandman

I would bet on Housefather leaving caucus if this happens, though I would hope that isn't what determines the government's position. Still probably a smart political move because it will placate the left flank of the party.

RNTMA

I agree. It's the weakest possible threat from a spineless government.  They should do it anyway.

Appropriate-Divide64

A growing number of countries have announced their intent to recognize Palestinian statehood, reflecting a shift in international consensus amid ongoing conflicts.

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