Carney Says Canada Would Consider Sending Military Peacekeeping Mission With Other Countries to Future Palestinian State

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada may send Canadian peacekeeping troops as part of a multi-national “stabilization force” to a future state of Palestine if all Israeli hostages are released and Hamas has no role in the future state.

Carney made the comments Sept. 23 while speaking on the sidelines of the 80th session of the U.N. General Assembly. On Sept. 21, Carney had said Canada would be part of a “co-ordinated international effort to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution,” and criticized the Israeli government for “working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established.”

Clarifying his position on Sept. 23, Carney said that a future peacekeeping force is possible but that it is too early to talk about any specifics.

“After the hostages have been returned as the first requirement and other factors, there will need to be a stabilization force. That stabilization force, my judgment, our judgment, will be an external stabilization force—a neutral stabilization force—something we used to call a peacekeeping mission,” Carney said.

“Canada will do what’s best for peace in that region. That could be materiel, it could be financial, it could be personnel, but I wouldn’t put any more weight on that. There’s so much more that had to have happened in order for it to come together.”

Opposition to Palestinian Statehood Recognition

Responding to Canada, the U.K., Australia, and Portugal recognizing future Palestinian statehood, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “you are giving a huge reward to terrorism,” adding: “it will not happen. A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River.”

The Conservatives have also condemned Ottawa’s decision to recognize Palestinian statehood, saying it amounts to rewarding terrorism and that the federal government should instead be focused on pressing issues at home such as affordability. .

Speaking Sept. 23, Carney said recognition of future Palestinian statehood aligns with Canada’s long-standing policy since 1947 of backing the right to self-determination and forms part of wider coordinated efforts to secure lasting peace in the region.