France recognised a Palestinian state at a world summit in New York on Monday (September 22), nearly two years into the war in Gaza, joining Britain, Canada and other Western allies who made the same historic move on Sunday and were rebuked by Israel.

“We must do everything within our power to preserve the very possibility of a two-state solution, Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security,” the summit host, French President Emmanuel Macron, said at the beginning of a planned three-hour session at the United Nations.

“The recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people takes nothing away from the rights of the people of Israel,” he said before announcing the diplomatic move drawing lengthy applause from the audience.

Macron outlined a framework for a “renewed Palestinian Authority” under which France would open an embassy subject to factors such as reforms, a ceasefire and the release of all remaining hostages taken from Israel and held by Hamas in Gaza.

While Monday’s event, convened by France and Saudi Arabia and boycotted by Israel and the United States, could boost the morale of Palestinians in their long search for statehood, it was not expected to deliver change on the ground.

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Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg and San Marino were also expected to recognise a Palestinian state on Monday ahead of this week’s UN General Assembly, after Australia, Britain, Canada and Portugal did so at the weekend.

Malta made the announcement earlier on Monday.

Two State Solution | President Cyril Ramaphosa takes to the podium