France has announced it will recognize the state of Palestine, a move that could shift discussions about the Middle East’s future.

France will officially recognize the state of Palestine, "true to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East," Emmanuel Macron said.

President Donald Trump dismissed France’s recognition of Palestine as a state on Friday, saying it "doesn’t matter" and "doesn’t carry any weight."

French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday his country would formally recognise a Palestinian state during a UN meeting in September, the most powerful European nation to announce such a move.While France would be the most significant European power to recognise a Palestinian state,

Dozens of pro-Palestinian activists waved flags and unfurled banners on Wednesday as the Tour de France peloton rode through Dieulefit, a southeastern French town honoured as a "Town of the Just" for sheltering Jewish people during World War Two.

In a move toward "lasting peace in the Middle East," Macron says, "France will recognize the state of Palestine."

Airdrops of food have resumed in Gaza, Israel and the United Arab Emirates said, as deaths from starvation in the besieged enclave spread.

Israel will allow foreign countries to parachute aid into Gaza starting on Friday, Israeli army radio quoted a military official as saying. An Israeli military spokesperson did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment on the report.