France, June 12 -- Foreign ministers and senior officials from dozens of countries are expected to attend the meeting, which comes one year after the UN-backed New York Declaration set out a roadmap towards Palestinian statehood and encouraged a number of countries, including France, Britain and Canada, to recognise a Palestinian state.

France says the gathering is intended to maintain momentum behind a negotiated settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at a time when efforts to implement a ceasefire in Gaza have stalled.

The conference is due to end with an eight-point "Call for Action" urging a permanent ceasefire, a halt to settlements, the reconstruction of Gaza, governance reforms and stronger international backing for civil...