Carney’s pledge that Canada would recognize Palestinian state gets mixed reactions

By Canadian Press on July 31, 2025.

MONTREAL — Prime Minister Mark Carney’s commitment that Canada would recognize a Palestinian state is prompting mixed reactions from Canadians with family in the Middle East.

Omar Mansour from Victoria says he feels encouraged by Carney’s announcement but believes Canada needs to do more to assist people trying to flee the Gaza Strip.

Mansour says he has family in Gaza who have been waiting more than a year for Canada to approve their visas.

Raquel Ohnona Look is the mother of a man killed by Hamas militants during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack at a music festival near the Gaza-Israel border.

She says she feels betrayed by Carney’s pledge, which is to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations in September as long as the Palestinian Authority holds elections next year.

Her son, Alexander Look, was 33 when he was gunned down during the Hamas attack.