France to become first G7 nation to recognise Palestine as a state

Emmanuel Macron has said France will recognise Palestine as a state later this year.

The French president announced the major change of policy in a letter to the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, which Mr Macron also published online on Thursday evening.

The French leader said he will make the formal announcement at the UN General Assembly, being held in September.

France will become the first G7 member to recognise a Palestinian state.

In his post explaining the decision, Mr Macron called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of the hostages and for much more humanitarian aid to reach those in the territory.

But Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned Mr Macron for this, and said that it "rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy".

Mr Netanyahu added that a "Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel - not to live in peace beside it".

He warned:"Let's be clear: The Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel."

But despite the condemnation from Israel, the move heaps pressure on France's allies such as the UK, and Sir Keir Starmer insisted tonight that he is "clear that statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people".

However, the prime minister has resisted calls from within his own party to recognise Palestine immediately, as he views this as part of the peace process in Gaza, which should come after a ceasefire.

"A ceasefire will put us on a path to the recognition of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution which guarantees peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis," he said.

Currently, half of the G20 recognise Palestine as a state, while nations including the UK, US, Germany and others do not.

But pressure has been growing on Sir Keir to change course, with senior Labour figures including the Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan publicly calling for a change in government policy.

Starmer: 'We are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe'

Just hours before Mr Macron's announcement, Sir Keir said he would be holding an "emergency call" with the leaders of France and Germany over what he termed the "humanitarian catastrophe" happening in Gaza.

In some of the firmest language from the government yet, Sir Keir said that "the suffering and starvation unfolding in Gaza is unspeakable and indefensible".

He went on to say that it has been "grave for some time", but that it has now "reached new depths and continues to worsen".

Sir Keir said: "I will hold an emergency call with E3 partners tomorrow, where we will discuss what we can do urgently to stop the killing and get people the food they desperately need while pulling together all the steps necessary to build a lasting peace."

The PM added that "we all agree" on the need for Israel to "change course and allow aid that is desperately needed to enter Gaza without delay".

He wrote: "It is hard to see a hopeful future in such dark times. But I must reiterate my call for all sides to engage in good faith, and at pace, to bring about an immediate ceasefire and for Hamas to unconditionally release all hostages."

Mr Macron pressed for recognition of Palestinian statehood in a recent address to the UK's Parliament earlier this month, where he said it was the "only path to peace".

Across the globe, more than 140 countries recognise Palestine as a state.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the latest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.