The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Macron’s statements after the French leader criticized Israel’s actions in the West Bank and the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Macron said the humanitarian crisis in Gaza was deteriorating and called for respect for international law and the principles of the United Nations.
He also stated that “Hamas has never carried out an attack in the West Bank,” a territory occupied by Israel since 1967 and home to the Palestinian Authority.
Following the remarks, Netanyahu’s office described Macron’s comments as “extremely absurd and astonishing.”
“The extreme madness in Emmanuel Macron’s words is astonishing,” the statement said.
Israel has continued to accuse Hamas militants of carrying out attacks in the West Bank, which it refers to as Judea and Samaria, and says Israeli civilians have been killed there.
“Hamas terrorists carry out attacks against Jews almost every day. Countless Israeli civilians have been killed in Judea and Samaria,” the statement added.
Macron Addresses Gaza and West Bank Crisis
In his UN speech, Macron said the international community should not continue to remain inactive over the situation in Gaza.
“What is the value of our principles if we continue to do nothing about Gaza? Some say peace has been achieved, but that has not resulted in humanitarian aid being delivered. It is a shame for all of us,” he said.
On the West Bank, Macron stated:
“Look at what is happening in the West Bank, where violence occurs every day. In whose name? Hamas has never carried out an attack in the West Bank. These daily actions make it increasingly difficult to uphold the legitimate rights of Palestinians to live.”
The West Bank is predominantly inhabited by Palestinians. The Palestinian Authority exercises control over parts of some cities, while Israel maintains control over much of the territory.
Relations between Netanyahu and Macron have been strained for some time. The French president was among Western leaders who supported the recognition of a Palestinian state by certain countries during the latest UN summit.
France also recently joined the United Kingdom in imposing sanctions on products originating from Israeli settlers in the West Bank, a decision criticized by the Israeli government.
