French President Emmanuel Macron pushed back on Secretary of State Marco Rubio's criticism of France's decision to recognize a Palestinian state, telling CBS News that doing so is necessary to combat Hamas.

Macron plans to formalize his country's decision at the United Nations General Assembly next week in New York. Macron's decision puts France at odds with the United States, which opposes recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Rubio called the plan "reckless" in July after Macron first announced the decision amid growing global frustration with Israel's war in Gaza, saying recognition "only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace."

In an interview with "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan on Thursday in Paris, Macron said "reckless" was "an excessive word."

"The object

See Full Page