India, Sept. 23 -- French President Emanuel Macron's remarks criticising Israel's actions in West Bank have drawn sharp reaction from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who termed it as 'grotesque absurdity'.

The row stems from Macron's speech at the UN's signature annual diplomatic gathering, where he Macron deplored the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Macron said that "Hamas has never struck in the West Bank," a territory seized by Israel in 1967 that is home to the Palestinian Authority.

"The grotesque absurdity of Emmanuel Macron's statement is staggering," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement, AFP reported. Netanyahu is likely to deliver a defiant address to the world body on Thursday.

"Hamas terrorists carry out ...