Israel sharply criticises French President Emmanuel Macron after he says Hamas has never struck in the West Bank during an address to the UN. Multiple outlets report that Israeli officials describe the comment as inaccurate and dismiss it as “grotesque absurdity” while responding to Macron’s broader criticism of Israeli conduct in the occupied territory.
Macron’s speech also focuses on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and calls for countries to recommit to international laws and the UN system. Outlets summarise that his remarks on the West Bank relate to a territory Israel seized in 1967 and that is home to the Palestinian Authority. Israel’s response is led in particular by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, which rejects the characterisation of Hamas activity and condemns Macron’s framing of settler violence against Palestinians.
Some outlets additionally note France’s diplomatic posture during this period. France 24 reports that despite an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Netanyahu, France allows Netanyahu’s plane to fly through French airspace on its way to New York. Other reports focus mainly on the verbal dispute between Macron and Israeli leaders.
