Macron's Hamas comments at UN were translation 'misinterpretation,' French source tells 'Post'

A French diplomatic source claims that French President Emmanuel Macron's remarks about Hamas's operations in the West Bank at the United Nations were a result of translation errors, rather than deliberate misrepresentation. According to the source, Macron's statement, "Hamas has never been particularly active," was translated as "Hamas has never been particularly active in the West Bank," when in reality, it meant "Hamas has never governed the West Bank."

This clarification comes after Israeli officials expressed criticism over Macron's comments during his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York.

Macron had criticized ongoing violations in the West Bank, questioning the justification for such actions. He emphasized the need for the international community to safeguard the Palestinian people's legitimate rights, including their right to exist. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich vehemently denounced Macron's statements, with Netanyahu labeling them "outrageous."

Netanyahu specifically cited the recent murder of French citizen Netanel Chkroun by a Hamas terrorist during a West Bank attack on Yom Kippur, stating that Macron's words were "unbelievable."

Smotrich accused Macron of "lying," emphasizing that Chkroun was killed by a "despicable terrorist from the Hamas terrorist organization," and pointed out that Chkroun was just one of numerous victims of Hamas's numerous attacks on Israeli civilians in Judea and Samaria. Smotrich claimed that Hamas was primarily engaged in Arab terrorism in the region.