Macron's Hamas comments at UN were translation 'misinterpretation,' French source tells 'Post'

A French diplomatic source clarified French President Emmanuel Macron's comments at the UN General Assembly regarding Hamas's West Bank activities, stating a translation "misinterpretation" occurred. Macron's phrase, "le Hamas n'a jamais sévi en Cisjordanie," was meant to convey "Hamas has never governed the West Bank," not "Hamas has never been particularly active." This clarification followed criticism from Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called Macron's original statements "outrageous," and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who claimed Macron was "lying." Both cited recent terror attacks in the West Bank, including the murder of a French citizen, as evidence of Hamas's ongoing involvement.