France joins UK, Portugal and Canada in recognising Palestinian state

French President Emmanuel Macron said the world can "no longer wait" to put an end to the war in the Gaza Strip and releasing the remaining 48 hostages held by Hamas.

France on Monday joined the UK, Portugal, Canada and Australia in formally recognising a Palestinian state, French President Emmanuel Macron announced whilst addressing the United Nations in New York.Before making the announcement, Macron told the UN the world was a few moments away from no longer being able to seize peace."We can no longer wait," the French leader said, as he condemned the 7 October attacks and called for a two-state solution."Nothing justifies the ongoing war", he said, adding that "everything compels us" to bring it to a definitive end.France is the latest country to announce its recognition of a Palestinian state after the UK, Portugal, Canada and Australia, a move that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said amounts to a "huge reward to terrorism."Our journalists are working on this story and will update it as soon as more information becomes available.