Canada is joining 14 other countries in expressing openness to recognizing a Palestinian state, a joint statement from the countries said on Wednesday.

A meeting of the heads of state and governments will take place during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September.

The joint statement opened by reiterating the countries’ condemnation of the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. They also reiterated “our unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-State solution where two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side.”

The group of 15 demanded “an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages of Hamas.”

“We, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zeal

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