World leaders rally behind Palestinian statehood at UN, defying US and Israel

Dozens of world leaders gathered at the United Nations on Monday to embrace a Palestinian state, a landmark diplomatic shift nearly two years into the Gaza war that faces fierce resistance from Israel and its close ally the United States. President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would recognise Palestine statehood at a meeting he convened with Saudi Arabia - a milestone that could boost Palestinian morale but appeared unlikely to change much 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 some 1,200 people. Israel has drawn global...