Attack Survivor Rebukes Macron Over Hamas Activity Claims

An Israeli who survived a 2015 attack attributed to Hamas in the West Bank has directly challenged French President Emmanuel Macron's assertion that the militant group has "never been very active" in the territory. Macron made the statement at the UN General Assembly while criticizing Israeli policy in the West Bank and disputing the justification of certain operations as counter-terrorism efforts against Hamas.

Shai Maymon, the survivor, posted his response on social media platform X, recounting how a Hamas cell from the village of Silwad opened fire on him at close range as he was returning home at night. The attack resulted in the death of his friend, Malachi Rosenfeld, while Maymon sustained leg injuries.

"The scars on my legs do not lie," Maymon wrote, directly addressing the French president. He invited Macron to witness "with his own eyes the works of Hamas in Judea and Samaria" and urged him to research the matter further before making public statements.

Maymon concluded his message by stating, "We will not move from here. This is the land of our ancestors." The incident occurred during the 81st UN General Assembly session in New York, where world leaders convened.