France, July 31 -- France has welcomed Canada's announcement that it will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September - and says it will continue working to persuade other countries to do the same.

The Elysee said President Emmanuel Macron discussed the move with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney earlier in the day and looked forward to working "in concert with Canada to revive a prospect for peace in the region."

Carney's declaration makes Canada the latest Western country - after France and the UK - to back Palestinian statehood as part of a push to preserve the two-state solution.

"The worsening suffering of civilians in Gaza leaves no room for delay in coordinated international action to support peace," ...