Politics
Netanyahu brands Macron's UN remarks on West Bank 'grotesque'
September 23, 2026 at 01:59 PM
Coverage
2 reports · 1 in Arabic, 1 in English · over 4 hours
French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Israel's actions in the West Bank during his UN General Assembly address, drawing condemnation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Macron said Hamas had never operated in the West Bank, where he said violations occur "day in, day out."
- Netanyahu called the remarks a "grotesque absurdity," saying Hamas members carry out attacks against Jews almost every day.
- A French diplomatic source said the words were misinterpreted, meaning "Hamas has never governed the West Bank."
- Macron rejected Trump's assertion that he ended the Gaza war, saying that peace has not reopened humanitarian access for a single second.