Israel blasts ‘grotesque absurdity’ of Macron’s UN remarks on West Bank
Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli officials labeled President Emmanuel Macron's UN speech remarks as "grotesque" and a "grotesque absurdity" after Macron claimed Hamas never operated in the West Bank. France has since attempted to clarify the wording, with a French source stating the comments were misinterpreted. In the same farewell address to the UN, Macron also described Donald Trump's diplomacy regarding Gaza as a "spectacle of shame."
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- ✓ Benjamin Netanyahu called Macron's claim that Hamas never operated in the West Bank "grotesque".
- ✓ Israel described Macron's UN remarks on the West Bank as a "grotesque absurdity".
- ✓ Macron described Donald Trump's Gaza diplomacy as a "spectacle of shame" during his UN farewell.
What changed
France issued a clarification claiming Macron's statements regarding Hamas operations in the West Bank were misinterpreted.
Live updates
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Israel slams Macron over UN remarks on Hamas in West Bank
Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli officials labeled President Emmanuel Macron's UN speech remarks as "grotesque" and a "grotesque absurdity" after Macron claimed Hamas never operated in the West Bank. France has since attempted to clarify the wording, with a French source stating the comments were misinterpreted. In the same farewell address to the UN, Macron also described Donald Trump's diplomacy regarding Gaza as a "spectacle of shame."
Why it matters
The dispute centers on the operational reach of Hamas, a point of high security tension for Israel. This diplomatic clash occurs as Macron concludes his UN engagement and criticizes US approaches to the region.
What is confirmed
- Benjamin Netanyahu called Macron's claim that Hamas never operated in the West Bank "grotesque".
- Israel described Macron's UN remarks on the West Bank as a "grotesque absurdity".
- Macron described Donald Trump's Gaza diplomacy as a "spectacle of shame" during his UN farewell.
Still unconfirmed
- A French source claims Macron's comments on Hamas's West Bank operations were misinterpreted.
- The disagreement may be a result of translation errors.
What to watch next
- Official written correction or retraction from the French government
- Formal diplomatic response from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (7)
- Reuters — In UN farewell, Macron denounces Trump's Gaza diplomacy as spectacle of shame
- The Times of Israel — Netanyahu decries Macron’s ‘grotesque’ claim that Hamas ‘never operated’ in West Bank
- France 24 — Israel blasts ‘grotesque absurdity’ of Macron’s UN remarks on West Bank
- The Jerusalem Post — French source: Macron's comments on Hamas's West bank operations misinterpreted
- BBC — Netanyahu calls Macron's West Bank comments in UN speech 'grotesque'
- Fox News — Lost in translation: Israel, Huckabee blast Macron over Hamas comments as France clarifies wording
- Le Monde.fr — Macron's error on Hamas during UN speech sparks Israeli anger
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