Israel has sharply rebuked French President Emmanuel Macron after he used his address to the United Nations General Assembly to criticise Israeli actions in the West Bank and the humanitarian situation in Gaza. In what is likely to be his final speech to the world body as president, Macron said that "Hamas has never struck in the West Bank," a claim that drew an immediate and angry response from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Netanyahu's office described Macron's comment as "the grotesque absurdity of Emmanuel Macron's statement," insisting that "Hamas terrorists carry out attacks against Jews almost every day. They have murdered countless Israeli civilians in Judea and Samaria," using the biblical term for the West Bank. The statement pointed to the killing on Sunday of an Israeli settler, Netanel Shukrun, a father of six who also held French citizenship, as evidence of ongoing violence.
A widening diplomatic rift
The exchange underscores the deteriorating relationship between Macron and Netanyahu, who have clashed repeatedly over the conduct of Israel's military operations and the broader Palestinian question. At last year's UN General Assembly, Macron led a push by Western nations to recognise a Palestinian state, a move that further strained ties. The French president's latest remarks come as he prepares to leave office, with a presidential election looming in France.
In his speech, Macron deplored the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, and called on nations to recommit to international law and the UN system. "What is our credibility worth if we remain inactive on Gaza? Some claim that peace has been achieved, but this has not opened up humanitarian deliveries. It is a spectacle that shames us all," he said. He also highlighted daily violations in the West Bank, asking, "In the name of what? Hamas has never struck in the West Bank. This every day makes it more impossible to achieve respect for the Palestinian people's legitimate right to exist."
Macron's assertion that Hamas has not operated in the West Bank is factually questionable. While Hamas's main stronghold is Gaza, the group has claimed responsibility for attacks in the West Bank, and Israeli security forces regularly arrest suspected Hamas operatives there. The Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in parts of the territory, has struggled to contain militant factions, and Israeli settlers frequently engage in violent incidents against Palestinian residents.
The United Nations has documented an average of about six settler-related violent incidents per day against Palestinians or their property in the West Bank through mid-2026. The Israeli military said it arrested the Palestinian gunman suspected of killing Shukrun at a hospital, and troops later raided his village. A minister in Netanyahu's government called for his execution under a new law, a remark that drew international criticism.
The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, also weighed in, denouncing Macron's speech as "out of touch with reality" and asserting that "Hamas is an evil scourge and they have killed innocent American citizens." Huckabee's comments reflect the Trump administration's staunchly pro-Israel stance, which has further isolated European efforts to broker a ceasefire.
Macron's remarks have resonated across Europe, where many governments are grappling with how to balance support for Israel's security with mounting concern over Palestinian rights. The French president's position aligns with a growing European push for a two-state solution, but his blunt language has angered Israeli officials and their allies. The dispute also complicates EU efforts to maintain a unified foreign policy on the Middle East, as member states like Hungary and the Czech Republic lean more pro-Israel, while others, including Spain and Ireland, have been more critical.
Netanyahu is expected to address the UN General Assembly on Thursday, and his speech is likely to include a pointed response to Macron's comments. The Israeli leader has previously accused European leaders of hypocrisy, arguing that Israel faces existential threats that require robust military action. The diplomatic spat comes at a time when the region remains volatile, with ongoing hostilities in Gaza and sporadic violence in the West Bank.
For European observers, the clash highlights the difficulty of advancing a coherent European policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The EU has long advocated for a negotiated settlement, but its influence has waned as the US has taken a more unilateral approach. Macron's remarks, while controversial, reflect a broader European frustration with the lack of progress and the humanitarian toll of the conflict.
As the UN General Assembly continues, the focus will be on Netanyahu's address and whether any diplomatic initiatives emerge. The French president's parting words may not change the situation on the ground, but they have reignited a debate that Europe cannot afford to ignore.
