France Clarifies Macron’s Hamas Remark After Israel Cites 80 West Bank Attacks

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 23

France’s Foreign Ministry said Emmanuel Macron meant Hamas does not govern the West Bank, after his U.N. remarks were understood as saying the group had never been active there.
Danny Danon, Israel’s U.N. ambassador, and U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee blasted the comment, with Israeli officials citing more than 80 lethal Hamas attacks from or directed from the West Bank since 1990.
Macron’s speech had accused Israel of violating Palestinian rights in the West Bank, razing villages in southern Lebanon and undermining the credibility of Palestinian statehood recognition amid Gaza’s “shameful” situation.
Gaza dominated the U.N. General Assembly opening despite a ceasefire, with António Guterres, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Brazil’s Lula and Turkey’s Erdoğan all sharply criticizing Israel.
Donald Trump offered the main pro-Israel counterpoint, defending his administration’s peace efforts, warning Iran would never get a nuclear weapon and saying he still expected a deal after the election.