by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply rebuked French President Emmanuel Macron after the French leader told the United Nations General Assembly that Hamas had “never been active” in Judea and Samaria, also known as the West Bank — remarks that came just days after a French-Israeli father of six was murdered in a shooting attack carried out by a reported Hamas operative.
Speaking before the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Macron criticized Israeli actions in Judea and Samaria, asking, “In the name of what?” before adding that “Hamas has never been active in the West Bank.” Hamas does not govern the territory, which is administered in part by the Palestinian Authority, but the terrorist organization has maintained cells and operatives there for years.
Netanyahu responded with unusually forceful language.
“The grotesque absurdity of Emmanuel Macron’s statement is staggering,” Netanyahu’s office said.
The prime minister pointed directly to the murder of Netanel Shukrun, a French citizen and father of six who was shot Sunday near the Ein Raya spring outside Neve Tzuf as he visited the site with his 16-year-old son ahead of Yom Kippur. Israeli reports identified the suspected gunman, Qadri Samara, as a Hamas operative. Shukrun reportedly warned his son to flee moments before he was fatally shot.
“On Sunday, the eve of Yom Kippur, just two days ago, Netanel Shukrun — a FRENCH CITIZEN and father of six — was murdered in his car by a Hamas terrorist in Judea and Samaria,” Netanyahu’s office said. “With his final breath, he told his son to run.”
Netanyahu added that Hamas terrorists have repeatedly carried out attacks in Judea and Samaria, declaring, “Ignorance is NO EXCUSE for erasing their blood.”
The murder was not the only recent evidence of Hamas activity in the territory. On August 28, Israeli forces carried out a rare airstrike near Jenin that killed Qais Bitawi, whom the Shin Bet identified as the head of Hamas activity in the Jenin refugee camp. Hamas itself acknowledged Bitawi as one of its operatives. Israeli security officials said he had been involved in planning and carrying out attacks against Israeli civilians and security forces.
France Says Macron’s Words Were Mistranslated
Following the Israeli backlash, French diplomatic officials said Macron’s remarks had been mistranslated or misunderstood.
A French official told The Times of Israel that Macron intended to say Hamas does not govern the West Bank, not that Hamas has never operated there. A French diplomatic source separately told The Jerusalem Post that Macron’s French phrase — “le Hamas n’a jamais sévi en Cisjordanie” — was intended in the context of Hamas not governing the territory.
The clarification significantly changes the meaning of the statement, though it came only after Israeli officials publicly challenged Macron’s original translated remarks.
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