Macron leads Western push to recognise Palestinian state at UN

French President Emmanuel Macron officially recognised a Palestinian state at the United Nations on Monday, spurring a wave of Western moves to defy Israel in making the landmark -- if symbolic -- move.

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Macron, speaking at a summit that Israel and its chief backer the United States did not attend, called for an end to the war in Gaza.

“The time for peace has come, as we are just moments away from no longer being able to seize it,” Macron said in an address in the General Assembly.

“The time has come to free the 48 hostages held by Hamas. The time has come to stop the war, the bombings of Gaza, the massacres and the displacement.” Macron, however, said France would not open an embassy to a Palestinian state until a ceasefire is in place in Gaza and all hostages released.

The Palestinian Authority hailed France's “historic and courageous” decision and its delegation gave him a standing ovation.

Australia, Britain, Canada and Portugal also recognized a Palestinian state, piling pressure on Israel as it intensifies its war in Gaza.

Monaco, Belgium, Andorra, Malta and Luxembourg then all recognized from the General Assembly podium, bringing the total number of recognitions to three-quarters of UN membership.

Spain, Ireland and Norway already recognized a Palestinian state in May, and Sweden did so in 2014.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed not to allow a Palestinian state and far-right members of his cabinet have threatened to annex the West Bank to make statehood impossible.