French President Emmanuel Macron claimed that the "so-called peace in Gaza is a spectacle that shames us all” during his speech at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday.
Macron claimed that ongoing restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza are “shameful,” and called on countries around the world to act rather than settle for declarations.
He also warned that the credibility of the international community is being put ot the test if it continues to stand by.
"There are those who claim that peace has been achieved, but this has not opened the way for humanitarian aid deliveries. This sight is shameful. Shame on all of us," he said.
The French president then questioned the value of recognizing a Palestinian state if it is not accompanied by action on the ground. “But what is our credibility worth if we remain inactive in the face of Gaza?” he asked.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said in response to the French president’s comments that Macron was “lying” and that a “despicable terrorist from the Hamas terrorist organization murdered Netanel Chkroun… who was bathing with his sons at a spring before Yom Kippur.”
“This is just one attack out of hundreds that the Hamas terrorist organization has carried out. The terrorist organization is fueling Arab terrorism in Judea and Samaria, and it is a significant part of its activities,” he added.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Macron’s statements “outrageous,” saying that the “absurdity of Emmanuel Macron’s words is unbelievable.”
He also alluded to Chkroun’s murder, saying that “in his last moments, he told his son to run."
“Hamas terrorists are carrying out attacks against Jews almost every day. They have murdered countless Israeli civilians in Judea and Samaria. Ignorance is no excuse for erasing their blood,” Netanyahu added.
Macron added during his UNGA that France’s commitment to recognizing Palestinian rights does not contradict its commitment to Israel’s security, reiterating his claims from an earlier speech at the UN.
Macron also addressed events in Judea and Samaria, saying: "Look at what is happening in the West Bank, where day after day we see violations. And in the name of what? Hamas has never been particularly active in the West Bank." According to him, the international community must protect "the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people," including their right to exist.
At the same time, the French president again emphasized Paris's commitment to Israel's security, but warned against the claim that Israel's security requires infringing on the sovereignty of neighboring countries.
Chairman of the Yesha Council, Israel Ganz also responded to Macron’s statements, saying that he is taking “fake news to a new high.”
Ganz is also head of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, which governs 47 Israeli outposts in the West Bank.
“Macron's serious statements are a shameful endorsement of the terrorist organization Hamas, which has kidnapped, shot, and murdered Israelis in Judea and Samaria for decades, and until this week,” he said.
“Macron, retract your words and apologize to the families immediately.”
Additionally, Chairman of the Yeshar Party Gadi Eisenkot said that Macron’s statement is “radically disconnected from the reality on the ground.”
“As someone who commanded the Judea and Samaria Division and someone who fought to eradicate Hamas terror, I am well aware of the terrorist organization's activities in Judea and Samaria as well as the threat it poses to Israeli citizens, as we witnessed just two days ago in the murderous attack in Binyamin,” he continued.
Eisenkot said that the fight against terror isn’t limited to the Gaza Strip, and that the “IDF has been fighting terror in Judea and Samaria for many years and will continue to do so.”
“The fight against terror is not subject to negotiation,” he continued, “and international hypocrisy that comes at the expense of the security of Israeli citizens must not be accepted."
During his speech, Macron also called for sovereignty for “Lebanon and its people,” claiming that a fully sovereign Lebanon is necessary to confront Hezbollah and restore security in the region.
He added that France would also continue to support Syria's sovereignty and unity, warning that "the revolution must not become a disappointment.”
Macron also warned that international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions are facing a “serious challenge” amid ongoing global conflicts.
"War crimes have become an industry. We have seen the destruction of civilian infrastructure and violations of human rights. This is a new era of barbaric acts," he said.
According to him, "The Geneva Conventions provided a framework of protection, but it is falling apart."
Macron also reiterated France's support for the International Court of Justice and said that Paris would continue to support its "central role." "We cannot simply accept this new order of impunity that some are trying to establish," he added.
At the end of his remarks, Macron also called for reform of the UN Security Council. “We must open up to new members and new regions," he said, with the aim of making the council more effective and representative.
