No change to Canada's plans to recognize Palestinian statehood

"Canadian PM says country won't join recognition of Palestinian state at the current time," says text inside an August 26, 2025 X photo.

The image originated with a news flash from the site Israel National News. Similar claims spread in English and French across X, Facebook and Threads, with some posts accusing Carney of "flip-flopping" on Palestinian statehood.

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Screenshot of an X post taken August 26, 2025

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Screenshot of a Facebook post taken August 26, 2025

Following announcements by France and the United Kingdom, Canada said July 30 that it would recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September 2025.

Carney said the move was necessary to preserve hopes of a two-state solution to the conflict, a long-standing Canadian goal which he said was "being eroded before our very eyes."

Israel is under mounting pressure both at home and abroad to end its almost two-year campaign in Gaza, a military response to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,129 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Gaza's health ministry says Israel has killed at least 62,800 Palestinians -- mostly civilians -- and the UN has declared a famine. 

Carney said the worsening suffering of civilians in Gaza left "no room for delay in coordinated international action to support peace."

Israel blasted Canada's announcement as part of a "distorted campaign of international pressure," while US President Donald Trump warned that trade negotiations with Ottawa may not proceed smoothly following the move.

Despite criticism of the decision by supporters of Israel, the claims that Canada had reversed course on its plans to recognize a Palestinian state are unfounded.

The government's position "has not changed" since its July 30 statement, a spokesperson for the prime minister told AFP on August 26 (archived here).

The false claims surfaced following a press conference Carney gave with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz while traveling to promote Canada's resource agreements in Europe (archived here).

According to media reports, Merz said Germany would not recognize a Palestinian state during the appearance. But AFP could not find evidence of Carney commenting on Canada's position at the availability.

According to an AFP tally, at least 145 of the 193 UN members now recognize or plan to recognize a Palestinian state. Some nations' declarations on statehood recognition, including Canada, are predicated on commitments for reform by the Palestinian Authority -- the governing body in the West Bank -- or a disavowal of any future governing role for Hamas.

Read more of AFP's reporting on misinformation surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict here.