Israel rebukes Macron over West Bank remarks at UN
Netanyahu’s office disputed Macron’s claim about Hamas attacks as the French president criticised Israeli actions and settler violence in the territory.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s criticism of Israeli actions and settler violence in the West Bank drew a rebuke from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, which called his statement about Hamas a “grotesque absurdity”.
In his UN General Assembly speech, Macron said Hamas had never struck in the West Bank. He also said daily violations there were making it harder to achieve respect for Palestinians’ right to exist.
Netanyahu’s office said Hamas militants attack Jews “almost every day” and cited the Sunday killing of an Israeli settler in the territory. Israel said the victim, Netanel Shukrun, was also a French citizen. The report did not independently substantiate the office’s claim about the frequency of Hamas attacks.
The Israeli military said it had arrested a Palestinian gunman at a hospital and that troops later raided his village. A minister in Netanyahu’s government called for the gunman’s execution under a new law.
The United Nations reported about six settler-related violent incidents against Palestinians or their property each day through mid-2026. Israel captured the West Bank in 1967; the Palestinian Authority has semi-autonomy in major urban areas, while Israel controls most of the territory.
