French President Emmanuel Macron recognised a Palestinian state at the United Nations on Monday, spurring a wave of Western moves to defy Israel in making the landmark – if symbolic – move.

Macron, speaking at a summit that Israel and its chief backer the US did not attend, called for an end to the war in Gaza.

"The time for peace has come, as we are just moments away from no longer being able to seize it," Macron said in an address in the General Assembly.

"The time has come to free the 48 hostages held by Hamas. The time has come to stop the war, the bombings of Gaza, the massacres and the displacement."

Macron, however, said France would not open an embassy to a Palestinian state until a ceasefire is in place in Gaza and all hostages released.

The Palestinian Authority hailed France's "historic and courageous" decision and its delegation gave him a standing ovation.

Australia, Britain, Canada and Portugal recognised a Palestinian state, piling pressure on Israel as it intensifies its war in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed not to allow a Palestinian state and far-right members of his cabinet have threatened to annex the West Bank to make statehood impossible.

Israel's UN ambassador Danny Danon said Israel "will take action".

"They are not promoting peace. They are supporting terrorism," he said.

US President Donald Trump "believes [recognition] is a reward to Hamas," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

And ahead of the summit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: "We should not feel intimidated by the risk of retaliation.” (AFP)