Israel denounces Macron's UN remarks on Hamas and West Bank as 'grotesque'
Emmanuel Macron's UN remarks on Hamas and the West Bank drew a furious Israeli response, while French officials say the comments were mistranslated or misunderstood.
What happened
French President Emmanuel Macron criticised Israeli conduct in the West Bank around his UN General Assembly address, saying Hamas was not active in the territory home to the Palestinian Authority.146
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials denounced the remarks, with Netanyahu's office calling them a 'grotesque absurdity' and citing daily Hamas attacks on Jews.56
French sources told Israeli outlets the comments were mistranslated or that Macron meant Hamas does not govern the West Bank, not that it has never operated there.25
France 24 noted that despite Macron's criticism, France allowed Netanyahu's plane to fly through French airspace en route to New York despite an ICC arrest warrant against him.1
What's agreed
Reported consistently by outlets in more than one region.
- French President Emmanuel Macron criticised Israeli actions in the West Bank during remarks around the UN General Assembly, saying Hamas was not active in the territory that is home to the Palestinian Authority.146
- Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, responded angrily and denounced Macron's remarks.12456
- Netanyahu's office called Macron's statement a 'grotesque absurdity' or 'grotesque,' rejecting the claim that Hamas does not operate in the West Bank.56
- French officials said Macron's comments were mistranslated or misunderstood, clarifying he meant Hamas does not govern the West Bank rather than that it never operated there.25
Where accounts differ
Each account is attributed to who makes it. We do not judge between them.
How it's framed
What each perspective puts first, based on headlines and summaries.
| Perspective | How it reads | What it puts first |
|---|---|---|
| Israeli privately owned outletsMiddle East & Turkey | Focus heavily on Netanyahu's and other officials' strong condemnation of Macron, using terms like 'outrageous' and 'grotesque,' and include French clarifications about mistranslation or intended meaning.25 | Netanyahu's condemnation, French clarification, Hamas attacks on Jews |
| Gulf-based Arab outletMiddle East & Turkey | Reports Israel's angry denunciation and quotes Netanyahu's office directly, foregrounding the 'grotesque absurdity' characterization and Israeli claims of daily Hamas attacks.6 | Israeli denunciation, direct quotes from Netanyahu's office, claims of Hamas attacks |
| European public broadcastersEurope | France 24 highlights a perceived contradiction between Macron's criticism of Israel and France's decision to allow Netanyahu's plane through its airspace despite an ICC warrant; RTE focuses on the substance of Macron's West Bank claim and Israel's anger.14 | Macron's criticism of Israel, France's ICC warrant airspace decision, Israel's angry response |
| South Asian outletSouth Asia | Coverage centers on separate Macron remarks about Trump talks on the Red Sea and Ukraine, and Hormuz Strait reopening, without addressing the West Bank dispute.3 | Macron-Trump talks, Strait of Hormuz, Iran blockade |
What the coverage leaves out
- None of the outlets reviewed provided the full text or video of Macron's original UN remarks to allow independent verification of the translation dispute.
- None of the outlets reviewed reported a French government statement directly addressing the ICC arrest warrant and airspace allowance mentioned by France 24.
- None of the outlets reviewed reported Palestinian Authority or Hamas responses to Macron's remarks or Israel's denunciation.
Why it matters
The dispute comes amid broader tension over France's stance on Israel, including questions about how Macron's UN criticism sits alongside France allowing Netanyahu's plane through its airspace despite an ICC arrest warrant against him.1
Netanyahu cited the recent killing of an Israeli with French citizenship by a Palestinian attacker as context for his rejection of Macron's claim.5
What to watch
- Netanyahu's planned address to the UN General Assembly, described as expected to be defiant.
- Any further French government clarification of Macron's remarks.
Sources (6)
Every outlet we drew on, grouped by where it is based. Read the originals for the full reporting.
Europe
- 1France 24FRPublic broadcaster
- 4RTÉ NewsIEPublic broadcaster
Middle East & Turkey
- 2The Jerusalem PostILPrivate
Macron's comments on Hamas's West Bank operations were mistranslated, French source tells 'Post'
- 5The Times of IsraelILPrivate
Netanyahu decries Macron’s ‘grotesque’ claim that Hamas ‘never operated’ in West Bank
- 6Arab NewsSAPrivate
Israel denounces ‘grotesque absurdity’ of Macron UN remarks on West Bank
South Asia
- 3The HinduINPrivate
Macron says talks with Trump on Red Sea, Ukraine ‘constructive’