Netanyahu office attacks Macron over West Bank, Hamas claims

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office issued a strongly worded response to Macron's claims made during UN proceedings, dismissing the French leader's assertion that Hamas is not active in the Palestinian territory as fundamentally misleading.

The Israeli government characterized Macron's remarks as a "grotesque absurdity," signalling deep displeasure with the diplomatic intervention. The rebuke underscores ongoing tensions between Israel and France over characterisations of militant groups and the broader Israeli-Palestinian situation.

The dispute centres on Hamas's operational presence and influence in the West Bank, where Israel maintains significant military and administrative control. Israeli officials argue that Hamas maintains substantial organisational and recruitment capabilities throughout the territory, contradicting the French president's public statements.

The exchange reflects broader diplomatic friction over how the international community characterises Palestinian armed groups and the security situation in occupied territories. France has sought to maintain dialogue with various parties to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, though such interventions frequently draw sharp criticism from Tel Aviv.

The disagreement highlights the persistent gap between Israeli and French assessments of threats and political realities in the region, with implications for European-Israeli relations and international approaches to Middle East diplomacy.