Recognizing Palestine would reward terror, not peace

Originally published in the Winnipeg Sun.

Mark Carney’s statement in support of recognizing a Palestinian state was not leadership—it was surrender. If Canada signals support for statehood without the absolute removal of Hamas from all levels of authority, we’re not backing peace. We’re rewarding terror.

This is not complicated. Hamas is a listed terrorist organization in Canada. It planned and carried out the slaughter of civilians on October 7, 2023, including women, children, the elderly, and entire families. It took hostages, used human shields, and celebrated the brutality. These aren’t disputed claims—they are verified facts.

So when a prominent figure like Carney suggests that Canada should move toward recognizing a Palestinian state, even with the vague qualifier that it must be “democratic and demilitarized,” the effect is to place a reward on the table while the terrorists are still in the room.

Recognition is not a goodwill gesture. It’s leverage. You don’t hand it over for free and expect anything in return. You don’t negotiate peace by giving up your strongest card before the terms are met. You don’t elevate the status of a government that still includes—either openly or covertly—terrorist actors with blood on their hands.

There should be zero ambiguity on this point. If Hamas is still operating in Gaza, still influencing political outcomes, still rearming and still threatening Israeli civilians, then statehood for Palestine is off the table. Period.

Carney’s comments weaken Canada’s moral clarity. He isn’t insisting that Hamas be removed first. He isn’t demanding that a legitimate and independent Palestinian leadership step forward. Instead, he’s rushing to catch up with European countries already lining up behind recognition, hoping to be seen as principled.

But gestures don’t make policy. And slogans don’t make peace.

Let’s be honest about the current situation. There is no functioning Palestinian government capable of administering a state free of terrorism. The Palestinian Authority has little credibility or control in Gaza. Hamas holds the weapons, the propaganda machine, and the population under threat.

Suggesting that democratic elections could be held in Gaza in 2026, free of Hamas influence, is wishful thinking. The odds of that happening are about the same as finding ice cubes in the Sahara.

Carney’s position fails a basic test: If you wouldn't make the same offer to any other group that committed a mass atrocity, why would you do it here? Would we reward Russia with new territory after invading Ukraine? Would we recognize a rogue regime in any other part of the world without demanding basic human rights and security guarantees? Of course not.

So why the double standard when it comes to Hamas?

No one is arguing against a two-state solution in principle. The long-term path to peace must include a secure Israel and a self-governed, peaceful Palestine. But that vision depends on something critical—Palestinians choosing leaders who reject terror, not embrace it. That hasn’t happened yet.

A Palestinian state must be built on the rule of law, civil rights, and transparent governance. You don’t get there by handing a political victory to a group that glorifies killing civilians. You get there by making clear that terror has consequences. That violence delays progress. That democracy isn’t just a word—it’s a structure that can’t be built on rubble and rage.

Carney’s statement was a rushed attempt to shape Canada’s foreign policy without the necessary groundwork. It was a gesture designed to look courageous without doing the heavy lifting that real diplomacy demands. That’s not leadership. It’s optics.

And optics like these come with real-world damage. Every time Western governments appear to bend toward recognition while Hamas remains in control, they send a signal to extremists across the globe: commit violence, and the world will eventually give you what you want. That’s the precedent we set if we allow recognition without full, irreversible removal of terrorist influence.

Carney should know better. He’s no stranger to global affairs. But in this case, he jumped ahead of the process. If he truly believes in Palestinian statehood, he should be using his platform to push for real reform, real disarmament, and real accountability within Palestinian society. He should be pressuring the international community to demand democratic alternatives to Hamas—not validating its grip on power.

Nobody wants endless war. Nobody wants civilian deaths. Everyone wants the region to move toward stability. But recognizing a Palestinian state while Hamas still operates with impunity is not a step toward peace—it’s a step backward.

This is not the moment for symbolism. It’s the moment for principle.

Canada should never reward terror with legitimacy. Not now. Not ever.