White House: Recognizing Palestinian statehood is ‘a reward to Hamas’

President Donald Trump “disagrees” with the U.S. allies who this week said they would recognize a Palestinian state and “believes it is a reward to Hamas,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday.

Leavitt’s comments came the day before Trump is set to address the United Nations General Assembly, as the president contends with the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal’s apparently coordinated announcement Sunday that they would recognize a Palestinian state.

Most U.N. member countries already recognize Palestinian statehood.

Leavitt said Trump views that move as “just more talk and not enough action from some of our friends and allies.” Trump “feels this does not do anything to release the hostages, which is the primary goal right now in Gaza,” Leavitt said. “It does nothing to end this conflict and bring this war to a close.”

She said Trump would further discuss the matter when he addresses the U.N. on Tuesday.

Faith Wardwell contributed to this report.