US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday criticized France and other countries seeking to recognize the State of Palestine, saying he warned them that Israel might respond by annexing the occupied West Bank.

Rubio refused to condemn efforts by members of the Israeli government to annex the West Bank in hopes of eliminating any chance for an independent Palestinian state.

The US minister told reporters in Ecuador, “What you see regarding the West Bank and annexation is not final; it is being discussed among some Israeli politicians. I will not speak about it today.”

He added, “What I will tell you is that it was entirely expected,” explaining, “We informed all these (leaders) countries before they announced their decision… There will be no Palestinian state because this is not how a Palestinian state will be created, because they hold press conferences somewhere.”

Rubio continued, “We told them this would lead to similar actions and make ceasefire more difficult.”

He reiterated that pressure to strengthen the Palestinian Authority based in the West Bank encouraged the rival Hamas movement in Gaza.

He said, “The moment the French announced it, Hamas withdrew from the negotiating table.”

French President Emmanuel Macron called on the United Nations to hold a summit on September 22 during which Palestine would be recognized, expressing his dismay at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.