NEW YORK: A series of unexpected microphone malfunctions at the United Nations interrupted high-profile speeches by world leaders, including Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, during discussions on Gaza and Palestinian statehood.
Leaders cut off mid-speech
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was abruptly silenced while detailing plans to deploy peacekeepers to Gaza. His microphone suddenly went dead mid-sentence, leaving interpreters scrambling before the audio was restored moments later.
Earlier, President Erdogan faced a similar disruption while condemning Israeli actions in Gaza and calling for international recognition of Palestine. Delegates heard the interpreter announce, “Cannot hear the President, his voice is gone,” before the problem was resolved.
The most dramatic interruption occurred on Monday during Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s historic announcement recognising the State of Palestine. Although his declaration was met with applause, his microphone cut out shortly afterward, prompting speculation about the timing of the failure.
UN staff attribute issues to technical glitches
UN technical personnel later confirmed that the disruptions stemmed from equipment problems within the General Assembly hall and emphasised there was “no indication” of deliberate interference.
The malfunctions took place as dozens of global leaders convened for a high-level session focused on Gaza and the Palestinian question.
Erdogan’s five-minute cutoff explained
During the International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, Erdogan’s microphone was automatically cut off exactly at the five-minute mark.
Before being silenced, Erdogan delivered a powerful warning about the “great humanitarian disaster” unfolding in Gaza, where over 65,000 people have died since October 2023. He described Israel’s actions as genocide, declaring, “No one with a conscience can remain silent in the face of such massacre.”
Türkiye’s Communications Directorate later clarified that the cutoff was automatic, in line with UN rules limiting speeches by heads of state to five minutes. Erdogan’s address, extended by applause, had exceeded the allotted time. Indonesian President Prabowo experienced the same automatic cutoff under the same regulations.
Symbolic timing amid rising support for Palestine
The timing of the microphone failures raised questions, coinciding with a growing wave of international recognition of Palestine, including recent endorsements from France, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, and Canada, as part of renewed efforts to advance the Two-State solution.
Leaders from Türkiye, Indonesia, and others urged immediate international action to halt the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, ensure unhindered humanitarian access, and consider deploying peacekeepers if necessary.
Despite the technical interruptions, the core messages resonated strongly. As one delegate remarked after Carney’s announcement, “The recognition was heard loud and clear, even if the microphone was not.”
