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A string of technical glitches at the United Nations disrupted key speeches by world leaders as they addressed Palestinian statehood, sparking confusion
and speculation in the General Assembly hall. Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto were among those affected.
Technical Glitches Mar Key Speeches
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was outlining plans to send peacekeepers to Gaza when his microphone suddenly went silent. The interpreter could not continue until the feed returned seconds later, as per a WION report.
Earlier, Turkish President Erdogan, denouncing what he called Israel’s “genocide in Gaza”, and urging immediate recognition of Palestine, experienced a similar disruption. Delegates briefly heard the interpreter announce, “Cannot hear the President, his voice is gone.” The audio resumed shortly after, but confusion had already spread through the hall.
The most dramatic interruption occurred during Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s declaration: “In this context, Canada recognises the state of Palestine.” The announcement drew applause but moments later, his microphone cut out entirely. One delegate noted, “The recognition was heard loud and clear, even if the microphone was not.”
UN officials later confirmed the issues were due to "equipment faults", adding that there was "no indication" of external interference.
Momentum For Palestinian Statehood Grows
Despite the technical setbacks, momentum for Palestinian recognition continued. France, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, and Canada joined the growing list of countries recognizing the state, with President Emmanuel Macron declaring, “Today, France recognises the state of Palestine.”
Around 150 nations now support recognition, even as Israel rejected the move, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisting, “A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River,” and the US warning such steps could be seen as a “reward to Hamas.”
The session underscored the urgency for Palestinian recognition amid intensified conflict in Gaza, even as European divisions persist and Japan hints at a forthcoming decision.
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