France recognised a Palestinian state at a United Nations summit in New York on Monday, nearly two years into the war in Gaza, joining Western allies such as Britain and Canada who made the same historic move on Sunday and were rebuked by Israel.
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While the announcement at the event convened by France and Saudi Arabia could boost the morale of Palestinians in their long search for statehood, it was not expected to deliver change on the ground.
The most far-right government in Israel’s history has declared there will be no Palestinian state as it pushes on with its fight against militant group Hamas in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people.
Israel has become increasingly isolated and drawn global condemnation over its military conduct in Gaza, where more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to local health authorities.
In recent weeks, Israel has begun a long-threatened ground assault on Gaza City with few prospects for a ceasefire.
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“We must pave the way for peace,” French President Emmanuel Macron said at the beginning of a planned three-hour session at the United Nations.