France will officially recognise a Palestinian state in September, President Emmanuel Macron has said.
In a post on X, Macron said the formal announcement would be made at a session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
"The urgent need today is for the war in Gaza to end and for the civilian population to be rescued. Peace is possible. We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza," he wrote.
Palestinian officials welcomed Macron's decision, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the move "rewards terror" following Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack in Israel.
In his Thursday's post on X, Macron wrote: "True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine.
