Israel’s offensive continues as several nations recognise Palestinian statepublished at 07:00 BST
Smoke was seen rising above Gaza City in an area hit by an air strike yesterday
Several countries have formally recognised Palestinian statehood over the past two days as Israel continues its ongoing assault on Gaza City.
Tanks and armoured vehicles have been seen in the city – once home to hundreds of thousands of people – where Israel’s army has destroyed large blocks of housing and forced residents to abandon their homes.
The bombardment continues as US President Donald Trump prepares to address the UN General Assembly in New York later today, where world leaders have gathered for the organisation’s 80th annual meeting.
Trump did not attend a pre-assembly conference on a two-state solution to the Israel-Gaza conflict. France, which co-hosted the event with Saudi Arabia, formally recognised a Palestinian state at the event, following similar announcements from the UK, Canada and Australia on Sunday.
The US has criticised the move as unhelpful to ending the conflict, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said “there will be no Palestinian state”.
Trump is expected to meet leaders from the Middle East in a separate meeting at the UN after his address, which is expected at 09:50 local time (14:50 BST).
Stay with us for all the latest from the UN in New York and on the ground in Gaza.