France, several countries ready to recognise Palestinian state at UN

French President Emmanuel Macron is to formally declare France’s recognition of a Palestinian state on Monday at a United Nations conference in New York co-chaired with Saudi Arabia, at the start of the UN  General Assembly. More than 145 countries already recognise a Palestinian state, including more than a dozen in Europe. Follow our liveblog for the latest developments.

• France‘s planned recognition of a Palestinian state will not include the opening of an embassy until Hamas frees the hostages it is holding in Gaza, President Emmanuel Macron has said in an interview with CBS.

• A senior Hamas official hailed Britain, Canada and Australia‘s recognition of a Palestinian state, describing it as a victory for the rights of Palestinians.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP, Reuters)