Wednesday, September 23, 2026 - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sharply rejected French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks about the West Bank, calling them a “grotesque absurdity.”
Macron, speaking at the UN General Assembly on September 22, criticised Israeli actions in the territory and said Hamas had not carried out attacks there. Netanyahu’s office responded that Hamas members continue to carry out attacks against Israelis in the West Bank.
The dispute intensified after the recent shooting death of Netanel Shukrun, an Israeli settler and French citizen, in the West Bank. Israeli authorities said a Palestinian gunman was arrested after the attack, while Netanyahu’s office cited the incident in challenging Macron’s remarks.
At the same time, the United Nations has reported roughly six settler-related violent incidents against Palestinians or their property each day in the territory through mid-2026, highlighting the continuing volatility on both sides.
A French diplomatic source has since said Macron’s words were misinterpreted, explaining that he intended to say Hamas does not govern the West Bank rather than that the group has never been active there.
The exchange comes as Macron presses for greater humanitarian access to Gaza and criticises ongoing violence in the West Bank, while Netanyahu is expected to address the UN later this week. The disagreement is adding another sharp diplomatic confrontation to an already tense international debate over Gaza and the future of the Palestinian territories.
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