Israel-Gaza live updates: France, UK, Canada recognize Palestinian statehood

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney published a statement Sunday announcing that "Canada recognises the State of Palestine," saying it "does so as part of a co-ordinated international effort to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution."

The statement calls on Hamas to release its hostages and "play no role in the future governance of Palestine," but it also criticizes the Israeli government, saying it is "working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established."

Carney emphasizes, "Recognising the State of Palestine, led by the Palestinian Authority, empowers those who seek peaceful coexistence and the end of Hamas. This in no way legitimises terrorism, nor is it any reward for it. Furthermore, it in no way compromises Canada’s steadfast support for the State of Israel, its people, and their security — security that can only ultimately be guaranteed through the achievement of a comprehensive two-state solution."

The United Kingdom is expected to make a similar announcement recognising a Palestinian state later Sunday, and France will host a summit on the subject with Saudi Arabia at United Nations General Assembly on Monday.

-ABC News’ Victoria Beaule

The Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health said in a statement on Sunday that 71 people were killed over the previous 24 hours with another 304 people injured.

The ministry said it believes a number of people are trapped under rubble as ambulances are having trouble reaching certain areas in the devastated Palestinian territory.

Four more people have also died of malnutrition in the last day, bringing the total number of deaths attributable to malnutrition to 440 -- including 147 children -- per ministry figures.

-ABC News' Diaa Ostaz and Victoria Beaule

The Israel Defense Forces said in a post to X on Sunday that it intercepted one of two rockets fired toward Israel from the northern Gaza Strip.

The air force intercepted one target and the other "fell in an open area," the IDF said, adding that there were no casualties.

the IDF is continuing a major operation targeting Gaza City -- the strip's largest urban area -- that it says intends to destroy Hamas units stationed there.

The Israeli government is pressing the attack despite international concerns over the dire humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory.

France will recognize the state of Palestine on Monday after the United Kingdom does the same Sunday evening, a senior French official told ABC News.

French President Emmanuel Macron will address the United Nations on Monday, where he will discuss on the Middle East and a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, during which he will formally recognize Palestine as a state, according to the official.

France will then send “a verbal note through the usual diplomatic channels to confirm this recognition,” the official said.

Along with France, nine other countries have decided to proceed with the recognition of Palestine: Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Portugal, Malta, the United Kingdom and San Marino. These countries join more than 140 countries which have already recognized the state of Palestine.

The UK is expected to announce its recognition on the eve of the conference on Sunday evening, a French source said. However, British Prime Minister Kier Starmer will not attend Monday’s conference.

-ABC News' Tom Soufi Burridge