President Macron's indecent remarks

On September 22, 2026, referring to the situation in Judea and Samaria—which he called the West Bank—French President Emmanuel Macron stated: "Hamas has never been active in the West Bank." This assertion is factually untenable. Hamas has long maintained networks there, recruiting operatives, funding cells, and claiming responsibility for attacks. To publicly deny this is to ignore a reality plain to those who live there and those who fight it.

Should such a serious and misleading statement go unanswered when delivered from the podium of the United Nations? No—because the words of a head of state always carry consequences.

A Tragic Denial

Current events have provided a tragic refutation of this claim. On September 20, on the eve of Yom Kippur, Netanel Shukrun, a French-Israeli father of six, was murdered near a spring in Judea and Samaria. He had gone there with his eldest son to immerse himself ahead of the most solemn day on the Jewish calendar. According to reports released after the attack, the terrorist claimed allegiance to Hamas.

"Shukrun, a father of six, had gone to the spring with his eldest son to immerse himself before Yom Kippur, in accordance with Jewish tradition. While there, the terrorist opened fire from a vehicle toward the spring, striking Shukrun, who was inside his car at the time." — (The Times of Israel)

Yoav, his 16-year-old son, offered this moving tribute: "Dad, I want to thank you for these sixteen years together. Thank you for shouting at me to run when the terrorist arrived. I don't remember your exact words, but I ran. Thank you for saving my life. Thank God I survived. I want to tell the whole family that we will push forward together."

Since the massacre of October 7, 2023, terrorist violence has sharply escalated in Judea and Samaria. The attacks target soldiers, as well as civilians on the roads, families, shepherds, and local residents. To claim that Hamas has "never been active there" erases a long history of attacks, victims, and thwarted operations.

The Israeli Response

The French president's remarks sparked sharp indignation in Israel across both the government and the opposition.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded: "The grotesque absurdity of Emmanuel Macron's statement is staggering. On Sunday, on the eve of Yom Kippur, just two days ago, Netanel Shukrun, a French citizen and father of six, was murdered by a Hamas terrorist in Judea and Samaria. With his last breath, he told his son to flee... Hamas terrorists carry out attacks against Jews almost every day. They have murdered countless Israeli civilians in Judea and Samaria. Ignorance is no excuse to erase their blood."

Gadi Eisenkot, former IDF Chief of Staff and leader of the Yashar party, also denounced the French president's remarks as "completely out of touch with reality on the ground." As a former commander of the Judea and Samaria Division, he recalled that the Israeli army has fought Hamas cells and the threats they pose to civilians for many years.

"The fight against terrorism is not limited to the Gaza Strip. The IDF has been fighting terrorism in Judea and Samaria for many years and will continue to do so. Counter-terrorism cannot be compromised, and it is unacceptable to endure international hypocrisy at the expense of Israel's security."

True peace cannot be built on the denial of reality. Scripture reminds public leaders of their duty to speak the truth: "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil" (Isaiah 5:20). Netanel Shukrun must not become a nameless victim, erased by an empty phrase spoken in New York.