French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed his government will formally recognise a Palestinian state, joining a wave of countries to do so in recent weeks.

Before his announcement, Macron told the UN the time has come to stop the war in Gaza and free the remaining 48 hostages detained by Hamas.

Macron condemned the 7 October attacks and said he wants to see peace in the region created by having two states living side-by-side.

He added the world is just a few moments away from no longer being able to seize peace, and adds: “We can no longer wait.”

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said recognition gives “a huge reward to terrorism”, and that a Palestinian state “will not happen”.

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