France and other countries were set Monday to join several Western governments that have angered Israel by recognizing a Palestinian state as the UN's centerpiece diplomatic week got underway in New York.

Recognition by Australia, Britain, Canada and Portugal on Sunday piled pressure on Israel as it intensifies its war in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands, devastated the enclave and drawn vocal rebukes from its allies.

President Emmanuel Macron has indicated France will follow suit Monday as he prepares to host a meeting with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman on the moribund idea of a two-state solution, envisioning Palestinian and Israeli coexistence.

"They want a nation, they want a state, and we should not push them towards Hamas," Macron said Sunday, adding that

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