Macron's UN Hamas Remarks Spark Outrage in Israel

French President Emmanuel Macron's recent statements at the UN General Assembly regarding Hamas and the West Bank have ignited a strong backlash from Israeli officials. Macron stated he did not understand why Israel considered Hamas a threat in the West Bank, claiming Hamas "never caused problems there." These remarks, described as "detached from reality and meaning" by Ynet correspondent Itamar Eichner, were met with indignation in Jerusalem.

Macron's broader address included veiled criticism of former US President Donald Trump and a call for action on Gaza. He then focused on the West Bank, questioning the daily "violations" and asserting that Hamas's actions there were not the issue. He argued that undermining the Palestinian right to exist, while claiming to ensure Israeli security, was a "fatal error" that weakened Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vehemently rejected Macron's assessment, calling it "absurd ignorance." Netanyahu pointed to the recent murder of French-Israeli citizen Natanel Shokrun by a Hamas terrorist in the West Bank just days prior, emphasizing that Hamas terrorists attack Israelis daily. He stated that ignorance is no excuse for denying the reality of Hamas's ongoing violence.

The article also notes criticism of Israel from other world leaders at the UN. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham called the October 7th attack "monstrous" but stated it did not justify Israel's actions in Gaza or the West Bank. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described Gaza as the "world's largest graveyard for children" and a "concentration camp," urging recognition of a Palestinian state. Jordanian King Abdullah II accused Israel of trying to erase the Palestinian presence and making a two-state solution impossible. Brazilian President Lula da Silva spoke of "genocide" by Israel, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Shar'a blamed Israel for regional instability.