Macron urges support for the UN and criticizes Gaza conditions in General Assembly address
Emmanuel Macron used his UN General Assembly speech to defend multilateralism and international law, criticize the lack of humanitarian access in Gaza and violence in the West Bank, and reaffirm support for Ukraine. He also proposed wartime moratoriums and a joint open-source AI effort, while his remarks about Hamas’s activity in the West Bank drew a clarification from a French diplomatic source.
Key points
- Macron presented the UN and international law as safeguards against a return to a “law of the jungle,” and supported reforming the Security Council.
Evidence · 4 source statements
“Do we want to live…with a return to the law of the jungle – or do we want to live in a civilized international society?”
International law does not describe reality, but rather outlines the limits of acceptable behaviour
he expressed support for Security Council reform to boost effectiveness
- He condemned Gaza’s humanitarian situation and West Bank violence, arguing that a two-state solution is necessary for Israel’s lasting security.
Evidence · 5 source statements
They are weakening Israel's security, both today and in the future,
- His speech also addressed Ukraine and AI: he backed moratoriums on attacks affecting civilian infrastructure and Black Sea shipping, and urged countries to develop an open-source AI model together.
Evidence · 5 source statements
He also called for a moratorium of attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea
Rather, we must come together to build an open-source frontier model, a cutting-edge model,
Who's involved
Emmanuel Macron
He delivered the address and set out France’s positions and proposals.
He defended multilateralism, the UN and international law; criticized Gaza’s humanitarian conditions and West Bank violence; said a two-state solution was necessary for Israel’s security; backed Ukraine; and urged joint development of open-source AI to avoid dependence on major powers.
What they said · 10 source statements
France was committed to both the UN itself and a revival of multilateralism to “tackle common challenges together”.
International law does not describe reality, but rather outlines the limits of acceptable behaviour
“We simply cannot accept this new order of impunity which some are trying to erect.”
They are weakening Israel's security, both today and in the future,
Rather, we must come together to build an open-source frontier model, a cutting-edge model,
I don't want anyone to become the vassal of one of the great powers.
French diplomatic source
The source addressed the disputed wording in Macron’s remarks about Hamas and the West Bank.
The source said Macron meant that Hamas had never governed the West Bank and that his words had been misinterpreted.
What they said · 3 source statements
there had been a "misinterpretation".
Hamas has never governed the West Bank.
Anna Kelly, White House
She responded to criticism of the US president’s role in Gaza diplomacy.
Kelly said Trump had ended the Israel-Hamas war, secured the return of living hostages and deceased hostages’ bodies, and was leading implementation of a Gaza peace plan.
What they said · 1 source statement
President Trump ended the war between Israel and Hamas, freed all living hostages, returned the bodies of the deceased to their loved ones, and is now leading the implementation…
United Nations
The UN was central to Macron’s appeal and was cited on conditions in Gaza.
The UN assessed that Gaza’s humanitarian conditions remained severe amid destruction, disrupted medical services, and continuing difficulty supplying food and essential items.
What they said · 1 source statement
Where accounts differ
What Macron meant when he said Hamas had never operated or been active in the West Bank
- Macron’s reported wording described Hamas as never having operated, struck, or been active in the West Bank.
Evidence · 4 source statements
Hamas has never operated in the West Bank,
"Hamas has never struck in the West Bank,"
Hamas was never very active in the West Bank,
- A French diplomatic source said he meant Hamas had never governed the West Bank, and described the wording as misinterpreted.
Evidence · 3 source statements
there had been a "misinterpretation".
Hamas has never governed the West Bank.
The accounts differ over whether Macron was describing Hamas’s activity in the West Bank or its governing role there.
What was reported
- Macron called on countries to stand with the United Nations, uphold international law, and reject an order of impunity.
Reported independently by 2: Le Monde, UN News
Evidence · 4 source statements
France was committed to both the UN itself and a revival of multilateralism to “tackle common challenges together”.
International law does not describe reality, but rather outlines the limits of acceptable behaviour
“We simply cannot accept this new order of impunity which some are trying to erect.”
- He supported moratoriums on strikes against energy and civilian infrastructure in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and on attacks affecting Black Sea shipping.
Reported independently by 2: France 24, Le Monde
Evidence · 4 source statements
called for Moscow and Kyiv to agree to a moratorium on striking civilian and energy targets.
We must protect the civilian population, and this is why we'd like to express our support for a double moratorium, a moratorium on strikes on energy and civilian infrastructure
He also called for a moratorium of attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea
- Macron said that peace in Gaza had not restored humanitarian access and described the situation as shameful.
Reported independently by 3: BBC News, Le Monde, Reuters
Evidence · 3 source statements
But that peace has not reopened humanitarian access for a single second.
But that peace has not reopened humanitarian access for a single second,
- He criticized violence in the West Bank and said that violating the sovereignty of Israel’s neighbors weakens Israel’s security.
Reported independently by 4: BBC News, Daily Jang, Der Spiegel, Reuters
Evidence · 4 source statements
Look at what's happening in the West Bank, where day in, day out, we are seeing violations.
They are weakening Israel's security, both today and in the future,
- Macron called for countries to work together on an open-source frontier AI model rather than depend on a great power.
One source: France 24
Evidence · 3 source statements
Rather, we must come together to build an open-source frontier model, a cutting-edge model,
I don't want anyone to become the vassal of one of the great powers.
"Rather, we must come together to build an open-source frontier model, a cutting-edge model."
- RIA Novosti reported that Macron struck the lectern with his fist while speaking about Palestine.
One source: RIA Novosti
Evidence · 1 source statement
Still unclear
- The subsequent status of humanitarian access in Gaza is not given.
- No outcome for the proposed moratoriums or open-source AI effort is given.
Not heard from
- Israeli government — Israel was directly implicated in Macron’s criticism of West Bank violence and his comments on security, but no Israeli official’s response appears in the cited claims.
- Palestinian representatives — Palestinians were directly affected by the Gaza and West Bank issues discussed, but no Palestinian representative’s statement appears in the cited claims.
- Hamas — Macron made claims about Hamas’s activity in the West Bank, but no statement from Hamas appears in the cited claims.
- Ukraine and Russia — Macron proposed moratoriums involving both countries, but neither country’s position on those proposals appears in the cited claims.