Macron's UN Claim on Hamas Activity in West Bank Sparks Outrage in Israel

French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the 81st UN General Assembly on Tuesday, discussing the Gaza war and the Palestinian issue. During his speech, Macron stated that "Hamas has never been active in the West Bank," a claim that has drawn sharp criticism from Israeli officials. Macron's remarks came as he called for respecting the Palestinian people's right to exist, which he deemed essential for Israel's security.

Israeli officials vehemently rejected Macron's assertion, pointing to recent events as evidence of Hamas's activity in the West Bank. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich cited the recent murder of Natanel Shicron by a Hamas operative while he was bathing in a spring in the Benjamin region. Smotrich also highlighted the arrest of a Hamas cell earlier in the month that was planning an attack in the Jordan Valley. Joseph Haddad, a prominent Israeli advocate, echoed these sentiments, calling Macron's statement "ignorance" and recalling the 2002 Park Hotel bombing, a deadly attack carried out by a Hamas operative.

Macron also commented on the situation in Gaza, questioning the credibility of nations that recognized Palestine on paper but remained inactive regarding the humanitarian crisis. He also touched upon Lebanon, stating that only a sovereign Lebanon could disarm Hezbollah and restore security to its citizens and neighbors.

Other world leaders also spoke at the UNGA regarding the Palestinian issue. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva accused the "Netanyahu government" of committing "genocide" against Palestinians. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated his support for an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, calling Gaza "the largest cemetery for children in the world," prompting the Israeli delegation to walk out of the hall in protest.