Macron's UN Address Sparks Controversy Over Hamas Claims

French President Emmanuel Macron stated during his address at the UN General Assembly that Hamas has never operated in the West Bank. "Just look at what is happening in the West Bank. Day after day we witness violations. And in the name of what? Hamas has never operated in the West Bank," Macron declared. He emphasized the need to respect the Palestinian people's legitimate right to exist, calling it a prerequisite for Israel's security.

Macron's remarks were made amidst a series of critical statements against Israel at the UN in New York. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the destruction in Gaza as the "most extensive he has ever seen" and characterized Israel's actions in the West Bank as "on the verge of ethnic cleansing."

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also used the platform to criticize Israel, stating that "generations of Palestinians will carry the trauma of the genocide committed by the Netanyahu government in Gaza."