Netanyahu considers statements by Macron about Gaza “grotesque absurd”

“ O grotesque nonsense of Emmanuel Macron’s statement is impressive,” Netanyahu stressed, according to a statement issued by the Israeli Prime Minister’s office.

The Chief Executive of Israel condemned Macron’s comments at the United Nations General Assembly this week in New York, mentioning the death of a French citizen in the hands of “a Hamas terrorist” while driving in the West Bank.

“ With his last breath, he told his son to flee,” Netanyahu reported about an incident that occurred, according to him, days before the Jewish festival of Yom Kippur, or Forgiveness Day.

“ Hamas terrorists carry out attacks on Jews almost daily. They murdered numerous Israeli civilians in Judea and Samaria (a term used by politicians in Israel to designate the West Bank). Ignorance is no excuse to erase their blood,” Netanyahu said.

His statements arise after the French President denounced, during the 81st edition of the UN General Assembly, that the situation in the Palestinian enclave is a “spectacle (which) embarrasses everyone”.

The person responsible again demanded the recognition of Palestine as a State, reminding that France and other countries took this step almost a year ago at the previous edition of the event.

“ What credibility do we have if we continue not to act before what happens in Gaza? Some people boast of a supposed peace in Palestine (...), but this peace has not reopened the humanitarian routes. This show shames us ", stressed.

“Watch what is happening in the West Bank, where violations occur every day, but in the name of what? (...) It is about building, day by day, the project of respect for the right of the Palestinian people to exist, but at the same time, it is about the conditions for peace and security today and tomorrow, both for Israel and for its people,” he added.

Macron warned that “those who say that Israel’s security implies violating their neighbors’ rights” are indeed weakening the security of the country.

The Gaza Strip war was triggered by Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023 in southern Israel, in which some 1,200 people died and 251 were taken hostage.

In retaliation, Israel launched a large-scale military operation in the enclave, which caused more than 73,000 deaths, according to local authorities controlled by Hamas, which do not distinguish civilians from fighters from the Islamist movement, considered a terrorist by Israel, the European Union, the United States and several other countries.

Since the beginning of the current ceasefire, agreed in October last year, the Gaza Strip authorities have counted more than 1,300 Palestinians killed in attacks by Israeli forces, not detailing how many were Hamas fighters.