National

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

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 22 Sep, 2025 09:19 AM

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

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Mark Carney trouncing Liberal leadership rivals at fundraising

Former central banker Mark Carney is dominating the fundraising field in the race for the federal Liberal leadership. And his main rival appears to be trailing at the back of the pack. Financial data published by Elections Canada shows Carney raised $1.9 million for his leadership bid — more than eight times the sum collected by his nearest fundraising competitor.

Mark Carney trouncing Liberal leadership rivals at fundraising

Economists more confident in Bank of Canada rate hold as inflation ticks up to 1.9%

Economists are more confident the Bank of Canada might pause its interest rate cuts next month — tariffs notwithstanding — as Canada's annual inflation rate ticked back up in January. Statistics Canada's consumer price index on Tuesday reported the annual inflation rate rose to 1.9 per cent last month, up from 1.8 per cent in December, as the effects from a full month of the federal government's GST break were offset by higher fuel costs.

Economists more confident in Bank of Canada rate hold as inflation ticks up to 1.9%

Most passengers injured in Pearson airport plane crash released from hospital: Delta

Delta Air Lines says all but two passengers injured Monday when a plane crashed and flipped on the tarmac at Toronto's Pearson airport have been released from hospitals as of this morning. Delta says in a social media post that 19 out of 21 passengers initially taken to Toronto-area hospitals have since been released as the investigation into the cause of the crash continues.

Most passengers injured in Pearson airport plane crash released from hospital: Delta

B.C. Labour Relations Board finds Starbucks made threats against pro-union employee

The B.C. Labour Relations Board has found Starbucks wrongfully made "threats of adverse consequences" against an employee for her unionization activity, but found the company had a "legitimate business reason" to close down its only unionized location in Vancouver.

B.C. Labour Relations Board finds Starbucks made threats against pro-union employee

Flu activity in B.C. peaking as COVID-19, respiratory virus decline

The BC Centre for Disease Control says influenza A infections remain high and continue to increase, with the percentage of tests returning positive up to 24 per cent in the week ending Feb. 1. That figure is more than double that of the 11.7 per cent reported between Dec. 22 and Dec. 28.

Flu activity in B.C. peaking as COVID-19, respiratory virus decline

Workers at B.C. LifeLabs file 72-hour strike notice over wages, benefits

The union representing about 1,200 workers at LifeLabs throughout British Columbia says it has issued a 72-hour strike notice to the employer. The B.C. General Employees' Union says in a news release that the action comes after months of negotiations and LifeLabs' refusal to bring wages and benefits in line with the cost of living.