France has recognised a Palestinian state at a world summit in New York, nearly two years into the war in Gaza, joining Western allies such as Britain and Australia, which already made the same historic move and were rebuked by Israel.

"We must pave the way for peace," the summit host, French President Emmanuel Macron, said on Monday.

"Today, France, recognises the state of Palestine."

While the event, convened by France and Saudi Arabia, could boost the morale of Palestinians in their long search for statehood, it is not expected to deliver change on the ground.

The most far-right government in Israel's history has declared there will be no Palestinian state as it pushes on with its fight against militant group Hamas in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed

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