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

French President Emmanuel Macron's earlier comments on Hamas's West Bank operations were a translation "misinterpretation," a French diplomatic source told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.

According to the source, the statement was translated as "Hamas has never been particularly active," but the meaning of the French phrase stated by Macron, "le Hamas n'a jamais sévi en Cisjordanie," is "Hamas has never governed the West Bank."

The apparent clarification follows criticism from several Israeli officials after Macron made the comments during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

"Look at what is happening in the West Bank, where day after day we see violations," he said. "And in the name of what?"

Macron added that the international community must protect "the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people," including their right to exist.