Hamas says France plan to recognise Palestinian state 'important step'

"We welcome the statements made by French President Emmanuel Macron regarding his country's readiness to recognise the State of Palestine," Hamas official Mahmud Mardawi told AFP. He called the announcement "an important step that, if implemented, would constitute a positive shift in the international position towards the legitimate national rights of our Palestinian people". On Wednesday, Macron said France plans to recognise a Palestinian state within months and could make the move at a UN conference in New York in June.