US Secretary of State Marco Rubio charged Monday that Hamas was emboldened by moves by Britain, France and other US allies to recognise a Palestinian state.

"They're largely symbolic -- they have really no impact whatsoever about bringing us any closer to a Palestinian state. The only impact they actually have is it makes Hamas feel more emboldened," Rubio said at a joint news conference in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"It's actually served as an impediment to peace," Rubio said.

Rubio said that at times in the past, Hamas "walked away from agreements that they actually had tacitly agreed to, but then they see the sort of international support they believe they're getting".

He said he will keep raising concerns directly to US allies as he was asked about hi

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