PARIS: France is set to join the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal in formally recognizing a Palestinian state at this week’s UN General Assembly.

The move follows yesterday’s announcements by the other countries, marking a wave of international recognition.

The growing list of nations recognizing Palestine adds pressure on Israel, which is now a week into its ground offensive in Gaza City, despite widespread global condemnation and protests from families of hostages held by Hamas.

The conflict in Gaza has claimed more than 65,000 lives, according to the enclave’s health ministry.

A rising number of international scholars and organizations have described the ongoing war as genocide, a claim that Israel continues to reject.