Israel denounces Macron UN remarks on West Bank

French President Emmanuel Macron described the situation in Gaza as a "spectacle" that "shames us all" during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday. He criticized ongoing restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza and called on countries to take action instead of just making declarations. Macron warned that the international community's credibility is at risk if it continues to stand by and not address the situation.

He questioned the value of recognizing a Palestinian state without accompanying actions on the ground. However, Israeli officials have strongly denied Macron's claims, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calling Macron a "despicable terrorist" and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu describing his words as "outrageous." Macron reiterated France's commitment to recognizing Palestinian rights while emphasizing Israel's security, but warned against infringing on the sovereignty of neighboring countries.

He also addressed the situation in the West Bank, criticizing ongoing violations and the lack of activity by Hamas there. At the same time, Macron warned against taking "fake news" at face value and called for the international community to protect the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.