Carney to meet leaders at UN General Assembly after recognizing Palestinian state

Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to meet with world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly later Monday after joining other nations in recognizing Palestinian statehood, despite pushback from the Trump administration.

The United Kingdom, Australia and Portugal joined Canada in recognizing an independent Palestinian state on Sunday before leaders from around the world arrived in New York City for this week's 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Other nations are expected to soon join the internationally co-ordinated effort to recognize a Palestinian state.

Israel and the Trump administration have condemned the move, saying it will embolden Hamas — the group that led the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks — and make it more difficult to negotiate a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

The United States has blocked multiple UN Security Council resolutions demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, saying they don't go far enough in condemning Hamas. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked the visas of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other officials ahead of the General Assembly.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to Canada and other U.S. allies recognizing a Palestinian state by saying that it "will not happen" and accusing them of offering a "prize" to Hamas. 

Rubio spoke with Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand on Sunday. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a news release that they discussed the "need to overcome Hamas’s ongoing obstruction of peace in Gaza."

Rubio and Anand also spoke about the need for the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution authorizing a UN Support Office for Haiti and a gang suppression force.

Netanyahu is scheduled to give a speech to the General Assembly on Friday before he travels to Washington for another meeting with Trump at the White House. Netanyahu said he would announce Israel’s response after the trip.

Hamas praised the move and called on the world to isolate Israel. Hamas does not support Israel's right to exist.

Carney is scheduled to deliver remarks at a high-level segment on Palestine and the implementation of a two-state solution — a Palestinian state existing in peace alongside Israel — before meeting with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Kenya's President William Ruto.

Earlier on Monday, Carney is set to take part in a fireside chat at the Council on Foreign Relations.

The prime minister met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday after declaring Canada would recognize a Palestinian state.

A readout from the Prime Minister's Office said Carney reinforced Canada's long-standing support for a two-state solution and for lasting stability in the region.

He and Guterres also spoke about the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages and a rapid scaling up of humanitarian relief.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick